[silver_queen]

Hi people ...

I want to know, is it safe to exercise with high blood pressure?

I'm 26, and my high blood pressure isn't officially medically diagnosed - although every time I go they comment on my high blood pressure when there but they say it's due to stress because I do experience a lot of anxiety over going to the dr. But a week ago I bought a personal blood pressure monitor after a practical class I had at university (I'm studying biology) revealed that I had high blood pressure there.

I haven't made many readings, but here are the results of them:

On 2nd Feb: 149/83 (similar to the reading I got in uni), heart rate 70.

This morning: 164/87, heart rate 77.

This evening: 150/85, heart rate 70.

For all these I have tried to make sure that I am as relaxed as I can be, having not done any exercise for at least 10 minutes before it, nor have I eaten nor drank anything for a few hours before it. I sit quietly in a chair and read until I think I am ready.

My weight is about 9st 9 (135 lb) (BMI 26.4) so I am slightly overweight.

So I have read that exercise can decrease blood pressure, but I have also read that blood pressure actually rises when exercising. Is it safe to exercise as my BP is now? I am not exactly sedentary now: I don't do much physical exercise but I do walk for at least 40 mins, most days of the week, to get to uni. I am thinking of taking up jogging ... I have jogged before but I can never really get into it, but I might try progressing too fast with it. I don't like swimming.

Should I tell my dr about the high BP before I start exercising? Or should I start the exercise and see if it makes a difference to the BP, and if it doesn't, to visit him then?

My aunt on my mother's side has told me that high blood pressure runs in the family. Could this be it? If so, would exercise make any difference at all in this case?

Silver

[anna342]

Whatever the reason for high BP you should see your doctor before any change in exercise habits. It would be good for lowering your BP in the long run to get exercise and of course diet changes can help too, but this needs to be done with the guide of a dr. It can run in families, but even if this is the case it's safer for your GP to be aware and be able to help you with it.

[sabby]

Yep, I agree with Anna.....you should always pass it by your doc and see what he/she has to say. Walking is truly the best exercise you can do as long as you don't over do it and are able to talk easily while walking. So, if you are used to walking, I wouldn't worry too much about continuing the walking. Anything else I think you should pass by the doc


Hope it all works out well for you!

[NoBread]

Originally Posted by silver_queen

Hi people ...

I want to know, is it safe to exercise with high blood pressure?

I'm 26, and my high blood pressure isn't officially medically diagnosed - although every time I go they comment on my high blood pressure when there but they say it's due to stress because I do experience a lot of anxiety over going to the dr. But a week ago I bought a personal blood pressure monitor after a practical class I had at university (I'm studying biology) revealed that I had high blood pressure there.

I haven't made many readings, but here are the results of them:

On 2nd Feb: 149/83 (similar to the reading I got in uni), heart rate 70.

This morning: 164/87, heart rate 77.

This evening: 150/85, heart rate 70.

For all these I have tried to make sure that I am as relaxed as I can be, having not done any exercise for at least 10 minutes before it, nor have I eaten nor drank anything for a few hours before it. I sit quietly in a chair and read until I think I am ready.

My weight is about 9st 9 (135 lb) (BMI 26.4) so I am slightly overweight.

So I have read that exercise can decrease blood pressure, but I have also read that blood pressure actually rises when exercising. Is it safe to exercise as my BP is now? I am not exactly sedentary now: I don't do much physical exercise but I do walk for at least 40 mins, most days of the week, to get to uni. I am thinking of taking up jogging ... I have jogged before but I can never really get into it, but I might try progressing too fast with it. I don't like swimming.

Should I tell my dr about the high BP before I start exercising? Or should I start the exercise and see if it makes a difference to the BP, and if it doesn't, to visit him then?

My aunt on my mother's side has told me that high blood pressure runs in the family. Could this be it? If so, would exercise make any difference at all in this case?

Silver

Dang, my doctors have been telling me for years that my blood pressure a was borderline high at 130. Well, if it was me, and in my case is it is, I changed my diet and lowered my blood pressure. I just checked it after drinking a couple glasses of wine and it is 117. That's the thing tho, it varies depending on what the time of day is and what I have eaten or consumed. I have read that some people check their blood pressure 15 or so minutes after eating a certain food to determine if it is causing a reaction. I haven't had to do that myself but some people do. I am not sure how valid that test is.

[eskielover]

My blood pressure readings are starting to read like yours.....but then when I was sitting at the pharmacy & checked my blood pressure there, it was normal....but went to a health fair & it read high there.....140/80+; 150/80+. The strange thing is that when I was dealing with anorexia, my blood pressure was LOW. I commented to my pain specialist who has been the one pointing out my "higher" blood pressure that my blood pressure was nice & low when my weight was lower. (I was just getting through the anorexia when I started to see him after moving across the country & leaving my past behind). He said...NO....you don't need to have lower weight.....but I would rather have lower weight & lower blood pressure honestly.

I have been thinking about going to the exercise classes at our extension office.....they started the Zumba exercise classes there. Love the latin dances, so think that would be not only great exercise, but great music to exercise to. Just have to get my body out of my COLD house, out into the cold & go work out.....need to find someone else interested in going think that might help also.

Know that my dad had high blood pressure all his life & it went untreated for so long that it damaged his blood vessels which caused the plaque to catch on the damaged areas. He had a heart attack at 65 & had 9 bypass surgery right after they stabilized him. Definitely don't want to go through that....thank you NO.

It's hard to get my mind around the fact that I am having to deal with high blood pressure after it being so LOW for so long. I would pass out all the time.

Have heard that those individual trampolines are good exercise for high blood pressure.....soft landing unless you fall off of it. My orthopedic surgeon got me to get one of those tiny trampolines after one of my knee surgeries. I really enjoyed bounding on it actually, but it's still in California with the rest of my things that I moved away from including my husband. Ugh, I should have very low blood pressure now that I left him.

[watchthestarsfall]

I would definitely talk to your doctor about the blood pressure before you start anything strenuous or if you're planning on taking up like weights and stuff. But in the meantime walking is a generally safe activity. The best thing for lowering blood pressure and improving cardio fitness is "LSD" or "long slow distance" so going for long walks is really good. But defintely talk it over with your dr as well.

Also, talking about it to your dr to see if you need it to be controlled with meds? Your weight doesn't seem to be a huge issue and so it might be linked to something else. You coudl also try cutting out excess sodium from your diet as that can affect blood pressure. Does it run in your family?

[trixielou]

im 36 & my bp at the doc (well bottom # is always 90 cant remember top #) he knows i jog & walk a lot but he never says anything i also smoke which i know is bad i have cut back a little & also a lot on caffeine & my weight needs to come down also dont have appt til march 4th but will see then what it is just got down doin laps at football field & i would like to jog a few but my body prefers cooler weather for jogging & today its 70 but evening shadows r creeping up on the 2 streets where i jog so may try in a little bit.

[sunrise]

Yes, please talk to your doc. The damage caused to our organs (e.g. heart, kidneys) by high blood pressure is cummulative over many years, and you may have elevated BP at an earlier age than a lot of folks develop it, so all the more reason to not let this go. When I first started developing high BP, my doctor's advice was low sodium diet, exercise, and maintain a healthy weight. I have a BP machine at home and go through periods when I check it quite frequently, like several times a day for a week or more. I found that lowering the salt in my diet did lower my BP by about 5 mm, which is great. I also take omega-3 fatty acids and try to eat lots of high fiber whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Your doctor will find it very useful if you take your BP regularly and then bring in your records to the appointment when you go. This will give him/her a better sense of how high and how real your numbers are.

[Skully]

I would clear any exercise program with your doctor first....but yes, it is safe and even good for high BP. Studies have proven that exercise can actually lower your BP! So exercise is always a smart option! I have a health and fitness club that you are welcome to join. I could help you get started with a program (I have a certification in personal training) and you can take it to your doctor for approval. Just PM me if you are interested