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Overweight people at high risk of hypertension

Source: Denton Record-Chronicle
Study Focuses on Blood Pressure's Danger

Our Summary

A French study of 250,000 people showed that overweight people with high blood pressure had twice the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke than healthy-weight people. The findings released in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association also indicate that people who are overweight yet with normal blood pressure had no increased risk.

The study by Dr. Frederique Thomas at Medical School of The University of Nancy, Paris tracked the health and blood pressure of 139,562 men and 104,236 women from 1972 to 1988. The study showed that half of those who were overweight had high blood pressure.

Carrying excess weight has long been known as a risk factor for hypertension. One way it does this is by increasing insulin production which can result in kidney abnormalities. According to WIN (Weight-control Information Network) , "people who are overweight are also more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, high levels of triglycerides (blood fats) and LDL cholesterol (a fat-like substance often called the "bad cholesterol"), and low levels of HDL cholesterol (the "good cholesterol"). These are all risk factors for heart disease and stroke."

What is your healthy weight? The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) classifies being overweight as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of between 25-29.9. Their website has a helpful page which calculates Body Mass Index (BMI). According to NHLB, "BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women."

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