Exercise High Blood Pressure

Exercise high blood pressure and it goes up. But only temporarily. What does it do over the long run? See this Drs Practical Guide and you'll want to start a program today!

There are two ways to affect blood pressure, raise it or lower it. Exercise does both and you'll see how in a minute. But wait, how about the immediate effect and the long-term effect? Well, exercise has both of those also. Here's how:

Immediate Effect:

When you exercise, your muscles demand a lot more circulation of blood, otherwise you won't last long. This increased circulation can only be accomplished by raising the blood pressure. This is a normal physiological response to exercise. By way of example, a 30 to 40 to 50 mm Hg rise in the systolic would not be unusual. This elevation dissipates as your body recovers from the exercise in the immediate post-exercise period.

Summary: The immediate effect of exercise on blood pressure is to raise it.

The Long Term Effect:

Over a period of months, the long-term effect of exercise on blood pressure is to lower it. This is very significant, equal in amount of effect to one good blood pressure medication.

If you exercise high blood pressure and it helps you to lose weight you also get the effect of the weight loss on blood pressure, that is to further lower it. It is probably roughly equal to the effect of exercise if you lose a very significant amount. It is independent of the exercise effect.

This is a win-win double whammy benefit. There are not many of these.

Summary: The long term effect of exercise on blood pressure is to lower it.

Other Benefits of Exercise:

1. Physical:
   • Lowers bad cholesterol, raises good cholesterol.
   • Helps lose weight; exercise is a near-essential part of any weight-loss program.
   • Strengthens heart, lungs, bones, muscle.
   • Increases balance and agility thus reducing chances of fall.
   • Increases strength, energy, and stamina.

2. Psychological:
   • Feeling of well-being.
   • Enhances self-image.
   • Increases self-confidence.
   • Calms and tones the nervous system.
   • Promotes sleep.
   • Look better, move like an athlete.
   • Decreases depression—Effect can easily equal the effect of an anti-depressant.

3. Diseases and Disease States:
   • Reduces your chances of heart disease, stroke, heart attack (MI), and diabetes.
   • Reduces your chances of getting many types of cancers including colon, prostate, breast and endometrium (womb lining).
   • Reduces your chances of getting diabetes and helps control it if you have it.
   • Reduces incidence of common infections by strengthening the immune system.
   • Retards the aging effect.
   • Retards dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.

Doctor's Practical Guide:

Did you read that list up there? WOW! You should be champing at the bit right now!

Don't forget to clear it with your doctor before starting an exercise program and particularly if you are going to exercise high blood pressure.

Also don't forget that you will have no practical way of measuring the effect of exercise on your blood pressure unless you take it yourself. You can do it; it's easy. See this page on How and Why How To Take Blood Pressure and also this detailed instruction booklet How To Take Blood Pressure Booklet

Move with confidence, have a little tasteful and refined swagger. Exercise yourself and exercise high blood pressure as well.

Exercise is probably the closest thing we have to the Fountain of Youth.