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Yon's Talk

'Hypertension' can be
improved with dieting!

Hello! I am Dr. Jiyeon Hong of Yon Oriental Clinic!

Lately, during consultations, I've noticed that many people seem to think that taking blood pressure medication is a normal part of life once they reach a certain age. There are even many people in their 30s and 40s who are already taking medication for hypertension.

Perhaps due to changes in lifestyle and dietary patterns, there are many young patients with hypertension. Typically, blood pressure medication must be taken consistently, and in most cases, the dosage is eventually increased. Of course, blood pressure medication does not fundamentally treat the condition; it only plays a role in temporarily lowering blood pressure.

Hypertension can be improved with diet
Case Study

The Connection Between Diet and Hypertension

Today, I would like to explore the connection between diet and hypertension, as dieting is one of the ways to treat hypertension more fundamentally. First, let's briefly look at cases where hypertension symptoms improved during a diet.

I will also explain how obesity induces hypertension, and how dieting can lead to the improvement and prevention of high blood pressure.

CASE 1. 41 years old / Male / Office Worker
He visited the clinic for weight loss due to being overweight. He was already taking blood pressure medication and had been diagnosed with borderline diabetes. He underwent a 4-month diet program using herbal medicine and pills, resulting in a 15% weight loss. His diabetes levels returned to normal, and his blood pressure improved to the point where he could stop taking his medication; we are currently monitoring his progress while keeping him off the medicine.

CASE 2. 42 years old / Female / Working Mom
As a working mom, her body fat percentage was nearly 40%. Balancing work and childcare exhausted much of her energy, which led to a high food intake. She had been taking blood pressure medication for two years. Over 4 months, she worked hard for the first month and a half and then took it easy, yet she still achieved a 13% weight loss. She was delighted to report that she has been able to reduce the dosage of the blood pressure medication she had been taking for two years.

Why?

Weight gain
raises blood pressure!!

It is already a known fact through numerous studies that obese individuals have a higher incidence of hypertension. When you gain weight, the following various mechanisms are activated comprehensively, making it easier for blood pressure to rise.

Why weight gain raises blood pressure
POINT 01

Leptin Resistance

When overeating is repeated, resistance to leptin, the hormone that signals satiety, occurs. This increases leptin secretion, which activates the sympathetic nervous system and directly raises blood pressure.

POINT 02

Insulin Resistance

In an obese state, blood levels of free fatty acids rise, worsening insulin resistance. As oxidative stress increases due to hyperglycemia, the blood vessels' ability to dilate decreases, eventually raising blood pressure.

POINT 03

Various Inflammatory Substances

Fat cells secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines. This increases blood levels of free fatty acids, causes inflammation of the blood vessels, and weakens vascular function, leading to higher blood pressure.

POINT 04

Activation of Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS)

Fat cells activate the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which raises blood pressure. It plays a key role in raising blood pressure by secreting angiotensinogen.

Research results on blood pressure reduction
Research 01

Dieting leads to
a decrease in blood pressure.

Study results on "Long-term weight loss and changes in blood pressure" published in the Annals of Internal Medicine

An analysis of changes in weight and blood pressure 36 months after a 6-month weight loss program revealed that the more weight lost, the greater the decrease in blood pressure.

  • With 8.8kg weight loss: Diastolic blood pressure decreased by 7.0mmHg / Systolic blood pressure decreased by 5.0mmHg
  • With 2.6kg weight loss: Diastolic blood pressure decreased by 4.5mmHg / Systolic blood pressure decreased by 2.5mmHg
[Conclusion] Losing weight lowers blood pressure. Losing more weight lowers it further. This is why you must actively diet to manage your blood pressure!!!
Research 02

When the yo-yo effect occurs,
blood pressure increases again.

Analysis of the 'Yo-yo Effect Group' with reduced weight loss after 36 months

As an extension of the study above, an analysis of the group that experienced a yo-yo effect confirmed that when weight increases due to the yo-yo effect, blood pressure also rises significantly.

  • With 10.2kg weight gain: Diastolic blood pressure increased by 5.2mmHg / Systolic blood pressure increased by 8.6mmHg
[Conclusion] When the yo-yo effect occurs, the positive effects of dieting also disappear. Weight loss and maintaining the lost weight must both be goals of your diet.
Yo-yo effect and blood pressure increase
Research 03

Dieting prevents hypertension.

Initial weight loss of 3.5kg reduces the cumulative incidence of hypertension by 21.6%.

According to the study "Long-term effects of weight loss and low-sodium diet on the development of hypertension" published in Hypertension, the group that underwent weight loss for 18 months showed a 21.6% lower cumulative incidence of hypertension 7 years later compared to the control group.

[Conclusion] Dieting provides hypertension prevention effects that last for over 7 years. You can see that this effect is on a different level compared to conventional hypertension treatment drugs.

Start Now

Start with a diet!!
Yon Oriental Clinic will help you.

Obesity is a key factor that induces hypertension!!
Dieting lowers blood pressure and reduces the occurrence of hypertension. If you diet for more than 6 months and maintain the weight loss continuously, you can be free from the dangers of hypertension.

For those already taking blood pressure medication,
For those worried about hypertension,
Start your diet with Yon Oriental Clinic right now!

Yon Oriental Clinic Diet Treatment

"By maintaining a diet and weight loss for 6 months or more,
you can be free from the dangers of hypertension."