Blood Pressure and BMI

First off, what is Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP)? When you get a blood pressure reading, you often get a fraction (e.g., 120/80). SBP is the top number, it is the amount of pressure in your arteries during the contraction of your heart muscle. 

What is its relation to BMI? Well, BMI is the relationship/calculation using a person's height and weight (kg/m2). This can tell you whether you are underweight, a healthy weight, or overweight. The index rules are as follows: 
Underweight = <18.5 
Normal weight = 18.5–24.9 
Overweight = 25–29.9 
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater 

The graph on the top explains how an increase in BMI leads to an increase in systolic pressure, thus creating a higher risk of stroke, chronic kidney disease, heart attacks, cardiovascular diseases, etc. If only your systolic pressure is high, and your diastolic pressure is normal, you are at risk for isolated systolic hypertension (ISH)* and should contact your doctor immediately.

Similar to systolic pressure, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is the bottom number in your blood pressure fraction. DBP is the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats (the time when the heart fills with blood and gets oxygen). If it is consistently higher than 90, you are at risk for Isolated Diastolic Hypertension (IDH)*. 

On the graph on the bottom, it shows the correlation between high blood pressure and the increase in BMI, thus leading us to believe that increased rates of obesity have a direct connection to your heart health, and ultimately the health of the rest of your organ systems. 

This is even more imperative in times such as these when your immune system should be busy fighting off bacteria and viruses, as opposed to keeping your heart beating and your arteries free of cholesterol buildup.