What they are?

Blood pressure and Body Mass Index (BMI) are two foundational clinical measurements used to evaluate cardiovascular and metabolic risk. Blood pressure reflects the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of the arteries, while BMI provides an estimate of body fat distribution relative to height and weight. Together, these values help clinicians assess overall cardiovascular workload and long-term disease risk.

What they check?

• Blood Pressure: Measures systolic pressure (the force when the heart contracts) and diastolic pressure (the force when the heart relaxes). Elevated readings may indicate increased arterial resistance, vascular stiffness, or early hypertension—conditions that can significantly elevate the risk of heart disease, stroke, and vascular damage.

• Body Mass Index (BMI): Calculates body fat proportion using weight and height. Although not a direct measure of body composition, BMI correlates strongly with body fat and is used to identify whether excess weight may be contributing to insulin resistance, inflammation, dyslipidemia, and increased cardiac strain.

Why they matter:

Elevated blood pressure and higher body mass index (BMI) are two of the most well-established, evidence-based predictors of cardiovascular disease. Hypertension is often called the “silent killer” because it causes progressive damage to arteries, the heart, kidneys, and brain without any noticeable symptoms. Likewise, an elevated BMI is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, sleep apnea, and increased cardiac workload.
Monitoring these metrics allows for early identification of modifiable risk factors and supports timely lifestyle, nutritional, or medical interventions. Combined with imaging studies, these measurements provide a more complete picture of your cardiovascular risk profile and help guide preventive strategies to improve long-term heart and vascular health.