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Can Weight Loss Lead To A Significant Fall In BP?

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Posted on Fri, 12 Jun 2015
Question: I have been taking stamlo beta (morning) and stamlo 2.5(night) based on doctor prescription for high BP for the past 8 years. I tried stopping medication for couple of weeks to observe my BP. But to my XXXXXXX my BP remains normal (120/80) . Does this mean I can stop medicines gradually? Btw, I did reduce my body weight from 72kg to 64kg now. Does that influence the BP?
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Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (1 hour later)
Brief answer....weightloss does decrease blood pressure
Detailed answer....
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
I have read your query and understand your concern.
It is good that your blood pressure is normal inspite of not taking the medication and this has happened due to reduction in weight achieved by you.
Weight loss in overweight or obese individuals can lead to a significant fall in blood pressure.
The weight loss-induced decline in blood pressure generally ranges from 0.5 to 2 mmHg for every 1 kg of weight lost, or about 1 mmHg for every 1 pound lost.
In addition if you decrease your salt intake and do regular aerobic exercises,it will have more beneficial and additive effect.
Aerobic exercise can decrease systolic and diastolic pressure by, on average, 4 to 6 mmHg and 3 mmHg, respectively, independent of weight loss. 
However I will advise you not to quit your antihypertensive medications cold turkey.
You must withdraw them gradually under the guidance of your doctor and keep a regular check on your blood pressure so that whenever your blood pressure shows a tendency to rise again,it can be managed immediately by restarting the medicines.
I hope it helps,however you may revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1978

Answered : 6704 Questions

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Can Weight Loss Lead To A Significant Fall In BP?

Brief answer....weightloss does decrease blood pressure Detailed answer.... Hello, Thanks for the query. I have read your query and understand your concern. It is good that your blood pressure is normal inspite of not taking the medication and this has happened due to reduction in weight achieved by you. Weight loss in overweight or obese individuals can lead to a significant fall in blood pressure. The weight loss-induced decline in blood pressure generally ranges from 0.5 to 2 mmHg for every 1 kg of weight lost, or about 1 mmHg for every 1 pound lost. In addition if you decrease your salt intake and do regular aerobic exercises,it will have more beneficial and additive effect. Aerobic exercise can decrease systolic and diastolic pressure by, on average, 4 to 6 mmHg and 3 mmHg, respectively, independent of weight loss.  However I will advise you not to quit your antihypertensive medications cold turkey. You must withdraw them gradually under the guidance of your doctor and keep a regular check on your blood pressure so that whenever your blood pressure shows a tendency to rise again,it can be managed immediately by restarting the medicines. I hope it helps,however you may revert to me for any further query. Best of luck Thanks