Q: I am on atenolol for high bp but I love to dance very fast. Will this affect my performance? It is my only real pleasure I have at 73. My heart rate is 120 plus beats per min. I am also on lisonipril 40mg and suffer from high anxiety.
A: The target heart rate during exercise for your age group is between 75 and 128.
Since you are on a medicine that blocks the ability of your heart to respond during exercise, it would be better is you keep your heart rate in the low end of this range. This is especially true when you are dancing consecutive numbers.
You should ask your doctor for a more specific recommendation as he/she knows your general fitness level and other health problems. The American Heart Association Website provides information on target heart rates and exercise for different age ranges.
(15 votes, average: 3.40 out of 5)
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Keep moving. Don’t stop dancing!Exercise is so important for health. It also lowers blood pressure.
I think Billybill has it right. You are 73 years old, and you enjoy dancing. You emphasize that it is “the only real pleasure” you have. I am reminded of the old adage, among us oldsters, that if you don’t use it, you lose it. So, I keep doing things because I want to keep doing them. As we age, a bit more caution and moderation are sometimes necessary, so be a bit careful about over-exerting yourself. Do what you feel is right for you, that is what counts……but for me, living without any pleasure, is not living, it is storage.
All the best!
lisonipril 40mg can have strong side effects (it did on me) where you are not as aware of your physical state; I agree with the Doctor and would try to stay at the low end of the range and maybe alternate the fast dances with the slow dances…
The cardiologist i went to after an atrial fibrillation episode put me on low dose nadalol and said to continue to exercise as much as I want. Sad thing is I was handling my bp naturally and then a dr made a mistake on my thyroid meds which sent me into atrial fib. The first time I didn’t take the meds but after the second episode agreed to take the lowest dose there is in the hope of keeping away more episodes (btw last episode I stopped it by taking nadalol which I had handy from the first time, so that is only reason I am willing to use it).
Although Atenaolol is the most widely prescribed BP med in the world, it is not the most effective, nor the safest. THe depression and fatigue which occur with higher doses make it difficult for patients to take at the 100mg dose which is the therapeutic level. The ACE’s and ARB’s are better and Diuretics still work well for most. For those who don’t want meds, the use of exercise, weight loss and ubiquitone are options.
I am surprised that you still manage to get a heart rate of 120 with a Beta Blocker! This is dangerous!
Find another doctor who takes your fitness level and exercise routine into consideration when prescribing blood pressure meds, and also takes you seriously as a patient, and not just an ‘older’ person like so many do.
(An elderly lady friend of mine hobbled around with a hip fracture and two different doctors prescribed painkillers and told her just to rest!!!) It is outrageous.
If he/she ignores you because you are ‘elderly’ go to another doctor again. Some docs just prescribe the same stuff to all patients.
Since I am past 60 I get the feeling that I when walk into a surgery I am already a target for thousands of dollars worth of ‘spare parts’ that could be taken out and ‘any pill will do’ approach.