Gaining just five pounds can increase your blood pressure and lead to more weight around the middle according to a Mayo Clinic study presented at the American Heart Association's High Blood Pressure Research Scientific Sessions in September of 2014. In this study researchers tested blood pressures using 24 hour abulatory blood pressure monitors before and after they overfed 16 patients over 8 weeks so they gained 5-11 lbs and compared their blood pressures, weight and abdominal girth before and after.
Lifestyle plays a very important role in regulating blood pressure. All too often our MDs are prescribing medications that always have side effects rather than teaching lifestyle approaches that include diet, exercise, stress reduction, promotion of adequate sleep, maintaining a normal weight and avoiding environmental toxins.
