Anyone seen a drop in BP with weight loss and exercise?

jenilla1

Quitting my hell job brought mine right back down to normal.

cmtigger

Sodium reduction and mild meds (mainly for another issue, but also helpful for blood pressure) got it down for me, but it was starting to be a pattern.

If this was a first high reading it might be a fluke. If it has been gradually going up, what did your doctor say?

LAT1963

You need to find out why your weight spiked up so quickly. Depression? Thyroid fail? Steroid metabolism fail? Water retention due to kidney or heart issues?

An isolated high blood pressure can be "white coat hypertension", which you can look up. A high reading can also happen when they use the regular blood pressure cuff when they should be using the longer one for fat people. Your blood pressure will also be elevated if you are in pain.

IF you are just fat and IF they used the right cuff then yes, there is a good chance your blood pressure will improve if you lose weight. It may or may not return to normal; it may improve but you might still need blood pressure medication (which would suggest there is something going on in addition to you being overweight to raise it in the first place, such as cholesterol in the artery walls or whatever).

However if your blood pressure is up because some other medical problem is going on, it won't go down until you are diagnosed and treated for that problem.

AnnPT77

I forgot to mention: I was pre-hypertensive in my mid 40s (I'm now 61). At about age 46, I became very active - regular vigorous exercise, 4-6 times weekly, including being a competitive athlete (rowing) to the extent of finishing in the medals (placing, not just participation medals!) in some races. But I easily out-ate my exercise, and stayed fat (obese BMI).

I had a pretty health diet throughout: I've been vegetarian since 1974, eat whole grains, mostly one-ingredient foods, cook at home, eat lots of fruits & veggies, etc.

Through all that, and through some efforts to eat things that would improve my BP specifically, I didn't see much change. When I lost the weight, my blood pressure became solidly low normal to normal, and has stayed there as I maintain weight.

Since, AFAIK, I lack the genetic background for HBP, your mileage may vary. But those were my results, n = 1.

Yvonnegogi

At 260 my blood pressure was dangerously high with readings at 200/95. Was told I could have a stroke. Was taking 1000 milligrams for it for years, was a kick in the pants to lose the weight. Fast forward to being 109, with low blood pressure about 2 years ago. Both my parents died within 1.5 years and I gained some weight and started MFP 52 days ago at 143. With blood pressure 140/80. Have lost 10 pounds it has gone down to 130/70. Still not great, but an improvement, I am needing to lose 8 pounds as I think this is where my body is comfortable. As high blood pressure is in my genes, as is heart attacks, failure and stroke. I also walk at least a couple miles a day now and do some light hiit workouts.

zyxst

Had HBP at 320#

Have HBP at 132#.

Follow DASH diet and eat lowish sodium (under 2300 mg per day). Walk 30k steps a day & exercise every other day. Still have HBP.

Weight loss doesn't cure/fix everything.

fitin50s2

Yes... so much so, I no longer need any sort of meds. That being said I am now extremely mindful of my sodium intake in an effort to help keep it that way.