A common complaint my clients with high blood pressure come to me with is tiredness.
They often ask me if their high blood pressure could be making them fatigued.
I have received this question enough that I wanted to write an article about it to dive deeper.
What is Normal Blood Pressure?
It is important to define normal blood pressure before diving into the pathophysiology of high blood pressure.
Normal blood pressure is classified by the American Heart Association as 120/80 or lower.
Anything above this is divided into 3 stages of hypertension.
Stage 1: 130-139 systolic or diastolic 80-89
Stage 2: 140/90 or higher
Stage 3 (hypertensive crisis): 180/120 or higher
Can High Blood Pressure Make You Tired?
Hypertension often comes with little noticeable symptoms and you usually only find out when you take a reading.
But if you dive a little deeper, the factors which are contributing to your high blood pressure in the first place are likely the cause of your tiredness.
Obesity & Fatigue
Most people who have high blood pressure are carrying more fat than they should be.
It has been well defined that being overweight causes high blood pressure.
And guess what being overweight also causes?
That’s right – tiredness.
I have witnessed this all too often with my clients that are middle aged and struggling with their energy levels.
They almost always have a higher body fat percentage than they should.
It is all connected.
Being overweight causes high blood pressure, tiredness, and also increases your risk of cardiovascular disease.
So you are often left conflating high blood pressure with tiredness when it is actually being overweight which is making you tired.
Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and High Blood Pressure
Obesity causes metabolic syndrome which is a cluster of conditions that coincide with excess adiposity.
These conditions include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, and excess body fat around the waist.
You can think of metabolic syndrome as the series of conditions that are most likely to track with obesity.
Metabolic syndrome most definitely causes tiredness and so if you meet any of the criteria, you are likely also experiencing tiredness.
How to Reverse Tiredness Associated with Hypertension
The best way to reduce the fatigue associated with hypertension and metabolic syndrome is to lose body fat.
Once you lose body fat, your energy levels will dramatically improve and your blood pressure will also decrease.
You will also improve your lipid levels and your blood sugar levels.
It is a fix-all solution!
I immediately start my clients on an exercise program and diet plan in order to fix their fatigue and hypertension.
Exercise Program for Hypertension & Fatigue
If you need help getting started please email me at jakob@rozefit.com and I would be happy to get your started.
I am really passionate about helping people reclaim their metabolic health and improve their quality of life through diet and exercise.
I have witnessed the dire end stages of metabolic syndrome with my girlfriend’s father who needed a leg amputation after suffering from diabetes.
Your metabolic health is incredibly important to your longevity and reducing high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and body fat cannot be overstated.
You can learn more about me here.