My friend and I were in Walmart the other day and both measured our blood pressure on the machine by the pharmacy. My blood pressure, diastolic, and systolic were all within normal ranges. My friend’s levels were all higher than normal range. My friend is the same height, is very lean, and weighs 140, whereas I on the other hand weigh around 208 right now and have a bit of a gut.
I was with my friend the whole day and neither of us had eaten and I don’t think he was taking any medication or anything. So assuming all things being equal in regard to temporarily heightening his blood pressure is it odd that someone weighing significantly less and being far more lean would have higher (and above normal) blood pressure than me?
There’s a good bit of genetics involved also. If hypertension runs in his family that could be causing a lot of it. If he’s a smoker that raises your blood pressure for a while after a cigarette. Could be his diet is poor, being thin does not equal being in good health.
Yes, most likely genetics. I have an aunt whose blood pressure is outrageously high; I don’t know the numbers but I do know that her doctor wondered how it was that she sould still be walking around with BP as high as she had. Drugs had no effect, nor did diet. Finally, I think she just gave up trying to “fix” the problem.
That was probably 15 years ago. She celebrated her 91st birthday earlier this month.