| Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls | | | | Though many people who are not obese suffer from |
| of arteries. Blood pressure is analyzed in two terms | | | | the condition, it's three times more likely that those |
| as systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. A blood | | | | who are overweight will develop the condition. |
| pressure measurement of 120/80 mmHg (millimeters | | | | Obesity starts at 20% above the ideal weight for |
| of mercury) is expressed verbally as "120 over 80." | | | | your height and bone structure. However, sometimes |
| Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg. Blood | | | | a small weight loss of five to ten pounds will reduce |
| pressure more than this 120/80 mm is termed as high | | | | blood pressure to within the normal range. If you |
| blood pressure. High blood pressure is common. Nearly | | | | have high blood pressure and are overweight, try to |
| 65 million Americans are getting treated for this | | | | get as close to your recommended body weight as |
| condition. African Americans are more prone to high | | | | possible. |
| BP. Sometimes overweight, those with family history | | | | The key to lowering blood pressure by walking is to |
| of high blood pressure, and those with | | | | walk briskly, swinging your arms. Start by walking a |
| pre-hypertension predisposes to High blood pressure. | | | | quarter mile and build up the length of the walks to a |
| The great arteries of the body behave somewhat | | | | mile. You will be surprised at how much your blood |
| like the balloon. They are stretched when the heart | | | | pressure lowers after a regular routine of walking |
| contracts, and by 'springing back' after the heartbeat, | | | | daily for two weeks to a month. The reason that |
| they cause the blood to remain under pressure. The | | | | exercise reduces high blood pressure is that it opens |
| blood is the only medium, which carries oxygen and | | | | blood vessels and that makes the blood pressure |
| all other nutrients to all parts of the body. Hence the | | | | come down. Even though blood pressure goes up |
| steady flow of blood is imperative for all functions of | | | | during exercise, it drops when the exercise ends. |
| the cell and its survival. | | | | Then when it goes back up, it doesn't reach such a |
| Regardless of race, age, or gender, anyone can | | | | high level. |
| develop high blood pressure. It is estimated that one | | | | Another important measure for you health is to not |
| in every four American adults has high blood | | | | smoke: While cigarette smoking is not directly related |
| pressure. Once high blood pressure develops, it | | | | to high blood pressure, it increases you risk of heart |
| usually lasts a lifetime. You can prevent and control | | | | attack and stroke. As your body weight increases, |
| high blood pressure by taking action. The causes of | | | | your blood pressure rises. In fact, being overweight |
| high blood pressure vary. Causes may include | | | | can make you two to six times more likely to |
| narrowing of the arteries, a greater than normal | | | | develop high blood pressure than if you are at your |
| volume of blood, or the heart beating faster or more | | | | desirable weight. Keeping your weight in the desirable |
| forcefully than it should. Any of these conditions will | | | | range is not only important to prevent high blood |
| cause increased pressure against the artery walls. | | | | pressure but also for your overall health and |
| Excess weight is a large factor in high blood pressure. | | | | well-being. |