Hypertension in both non-obese and obese hypertensive patients is characterized by activation of the sympathetic nervous system. This interesting paper provides provocative evidence that the pattern of sympathoexcitation may differ in non-obese and obese hypertensive patients. The sympathetic overdrive that occurs in obesity may affect muscle/tissue differently than a more ‘pure’ form of hypertension such as the one found in non-obese individuals. Thus, hypertension in obese vs. normal weight individuals may feature two different modes of sympathetic activation.
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