Scientists of University of Mississippi Medical Center US have found out that body mass index are positively related to hypertension and high blood pressure.
3216 people who had never been given any medication for hypertension were subjected to 24 hr monitoring of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Body mass index could be significantly related to mean daytime and nighttime systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The BMI could also be positively correlated with mean 24 hr daytime and nighttime pulse rate and heart rate.The results showed that the incidence of whit coat hypertension was higher for obese patients than normal patients. The incidence of confirmed ambulatory hypertension was also found to be more for obese people than those with normal weights.
The researchers had said that the results confirm that obesity do increase the incidence of high blood pressure and its related effect of hypertension as well. This proves once again that it is of vital importance to control extra weight gain over and above the normal body weight in order to have a healthy life.
The study was published in the current issue of the journal Hypertension.
Reference: Journal Hypertension, issue April 2005 , body mass index, hypertension, blood pressure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, pulse rate
