Keep Exercise To Control Blood Pressure
December 13, 2008 by rainier
Weight Loss
In people who are overweight, even modest reductions in weight, particularly in the abdominal area, can immediately reduces blood pressure and helps reduce heart size. Weight loss, particularly accompanied by salt restriction, may allow patients with mild hypertension, even older people, to safely reduce or go off medications. The benefits of weight loss on blood pressure appear to be durable.
Exercise
Positive Effects on Blood Pressure. Regular exercise helps keep arteries elastic, even in older people, which in turn ensures blood flow and normal blood pressure. Sedentary people have a 35% greater risk of developing hypertension than athletes do. Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise on most −− if not all−days. In one study, moderate exercise (jogging two miles per day) controlled hypertension so well that more than half the patients who had been taking drugs for high blood pressure were able to discontinue their medication.
Studies have also indicated that yoga and Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese exercise involving slow, relaxing movements,may lower blood pressure almost as well as moderate−intensity aerobic exercises.
High−intensity exercise may not lower blood pressure as effectively as moderate intensity exercise and may be dangerous in people with hypertension.
Negative Effects. Each year an estimated 75,000 heart attacks (or 5% of all heart attacks) occur after heavy exertion,leading to 25,000 deaths. Older people and those with uncontrolled hypertension or other serious medical conditions should be very cautious. Studies report that older people who begin vigorous exercise are at a slightly higher than average risk for a heart attack during the first year, but over time, regular exercise is likely to be protective.
The following activities may pose particular dangers for high−risk individuals.
*Intense workouts (snow shoveling, slow jogging, speed walking, tennis, heavy lifting, heavy gardening). They tend to stress the heart, raise blood pressure for a brief period, and may cause spasms in the arteries leading to the heart.
*Competitive sports, which couple intense activity with aggressive emotions. Effects of Anti−Hypertensive Drugs on Exercise. Certain anti−hypertensive medications, including diuretics and beta−blockers, can interfere with exercise capacity. ACE inhibitors or calcium−channel blockers are the best drugs for active individuals. However, patients who must take drugs that interfere somewhat with exercise capability should still adhere to an exercise program and consult a physician on how best to balance medications with exercise.
Thank you, cognitive.