Q: Is it safe to lift weights when one has high blood pressure?
A: People with high blood pressure are encouraged to exercise. Having a regular exercise program will help keep blood pressure in control. Check with your doctor before starting a vigorous exercise program. Certain blood pressure medicines block the ability of your heart to beat faster so you need to know if your doctor feels your exercise needs to be restricted.
Further Reading:
High Blood Pressure and Weight Lifting – Bodybuidlingforyou.com
Is Strength Training Bad for Blood Pressure? – HealthCentral.com
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Is strength training bad for blood pressure?
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Restricting your exercise because you are on beta blockers can be a formula for disaster that exacerbates your risk of heart problems. Exercise, both aerobic and anaerobic, are good for health generally, including hypertension. Beta blockers slow your heart rate, and can do additional damage to your heart over time, so much so that beta blockers are no longer a first-tier medication in the treatment of hypertension in Britain (you can google this issue to learn more). Yet, beta blockers are among the first choices in the U.S. for treatment of hypertension. Maintaining muscle mass as we age is very important, and lifting weights is very helpful to that goal. While we are exercising, and this is generally true with aerobic as well as anaerobic exercise, our blood pressure will typically go up. Lifting weights can leave blood pressure elevated after the exercise is over, while aerobic exercise helps bring blood pressure down after it is completed. In order to get the benefits of anaerobic exercise (lifting weights), many health professionals recommend a period of about 20 minutes of aerobic exercise AFTER lifting weights to help bring blood pressure back down after exercising. I do this religiously in my workout program, and it works great for me. Hope it helps you! All the best!!
D…are you going to post proof of what you keep espousing? Please email me with this proof, because when I go back and check these posts, you NEVER do.
Weight lifting weights the act raises blood pressure the moment you are loading your body with the weights, I recall reading that some power lifters register over 400 mmHG when lifting extreme weights, some will bleed thru the nostrils from the exertion, healthy blood vessels can withstand 10 times the normal BP.
Healthy blood vessels require Vitamin C and copper (to manufacture collagen) to stay elastic and avoid aneurisms and ruptures (along with all the other minerals and vitamins) Make sure your intake of magnesium is complete, a little extra wont hurt you but don’t go over the limit on calcium.
I lifts weights because is the only type of exercise that builds tissue and rejuvenates, muscles specially, and is the best way to avoid frailty as we age. (Google 86 yo weight lifting grandma to get an idea) Weight lifting promotes vitality, and optimism simple because you know you are getting stronger and you begin to realize your limits are expanding.
But the long term benefits are many, as you have more muscles your machinery to burn calories is bigger since muscles are the greatest calorie consuming tissue of your body, along with a good diet your body will have less fat in the belly and in the blood translating into a naturally lower BP, weight lifting promotes vascular and capillary development (again better circulation and lower BP) a natural increase of the metabolic rate (leaner body lower BP) and many other benefits.
If you never done it, get your BP to acceptable levels and start to condition your body, all it takes is 45 to 50 minutes 3 times a week, depending of your age give your body ample time to recoup, at least 2 days, start easy, you will have no choice anyway.
I have high BP (well controlled) and 4 coronary artery stents. I took a class in cardiac rehab. I learned the following: Start lower than you believe is necessary. Increase in increments of 5-10 lbs every week intitially, then as tolerated. Lift to the point of burn NOT pain. If you have pain stop for the day. (If you have chest pain, tell someone and let your doctor know.) If you get really sore you are lifting too much wt. Do only one set of 10-12 reps to start with. When you have been lifting and are comfortable and feel as if you can do more, do so but slowly. Lift only 3 days a week with at least one day between. Lift weights slowly, stop for 1-2 seconds at the top of the lift, then lower the weight slowly. It is more difficult, you’ll get better results in the long run, and it is not as hard on the muscles and vascular system. AND FINALLY (and most important) – BREATHE!! In BEFORE you start the lift, then slowly out as you lower the weight. That really helps the B/P. Hope this helps.