Q: My BP is about 130/90 and after running for 5kms, it usually drops to 110/70. The more I run, the more it drops. Is this normal? I take Norvasc 5mg 1x/day.
A: The medicine you take, Norvasc, works by relaxing your blood vessels. Consequently it affects your body’s ability to respond to the increased oxygen demands of exercise. You should ask your doctor to recommend a t heart rate for you during exercise. Heart rate is easy to monitor during exercise and a variety of monitors are available. Your question did not state when you are measuring your blood pressure – during, immediately after running, or several hours after running. It is difficult to give an opinion about your blood pressure response without this information. I am concerned that you may be training too hard.
Further Reading:
Info on Norvasc – WebMD.com
(17 votes, average: 3.53 out of 5)
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I, too walk/jog to improve my Borderline BP ( 120’s- 130’s over 70’s and have found that my BP is 109 – 120 after an hour or so of exercising. My understanding is that exercise causes the blood vessels to be more flexible and relaxed after a workout. I don”t take medication but I never thought that the drop in BP was from working out too hard. So, I am curious now ,too about working out too hard. I do walak/jog with a heart rate monitor and stay withing my parameters most of the time but do go over my limits occasionally
“I am concerned that you may be training too hard”……….what a ridiculous assumption.
How old are you? What is your height and weight? Are you an athlete? Do you run 20km runs? Sounds to me like your running has been very good for your health.
Perhaps there are alternatives to medication if you can lower blood pressure that much just with healthy aerobic exercise. Have you ever tried far infrared sauna after a run? Between regular exercise, far infrared sauna, and supplements like dandelion leaf (a natural diuretic) and pomegranate (a natural ace inhibitor), as well as relaxation techniques including resperate, I completely got off of a dual-drug hypertension regimen.
Good luck to you, and all the best!
I like D Caresta’s reply better. This guy can definitely get off the meds.The fact that exercise has that effect leads the way. Supplements, adequate sleep and Resperate could take him all the way. And oh yeah, possible dietary adjustments.
I have been using respirate for years, I t is good, however my bp on meds would not drop below 150/80. I went Atkins, religiously. After 2 weeks, bp down to 120/65. Now, 2 months later, with exercise and drastically reduced carbs, I am off the meds. Caution, if you do this diet, watch out for the dizzyness as the bp begins to fall. BTW my blood sugar also normalized. The best move I ever made. Still using respirate along with bp reducing herbs and vitamins.
Were you taking the supplements along with the BP medication before you got completely off the medication or did you stop taking the med. before starting the suppliment regimen? I take medication for hypertension but would like to try a natural source. Thank you, Gwen
The assumption isn’t THAT rediculous. Many would agree that even a 5km run is a “hard” workout for the average person.
A better question would be, “What about reducing the workout/run to 2-3km?” But alas, the Dr. would still require more info from the patient, as mentioned in her reply.
Its commmon to see a significant bp reduction after exercise.
LOL, most people that have high BP have it because they do not get enough exercise. Runners are known for having low BP. This is very normal. Keep running and chances are you will no longer need meds.
I run and still have higher than I would like BP so have to take lisinopril. I guess everyone is different…
Comments aside, you should discuss this situation with the physician that prescribed your meds. Tell him your concerns, wether or not you should adjust them with a regular or intense exercise regiment or the fact that you want to stop should be done with that doctor. Take your readings with you. Consistant numbers don’t usually lie.
I wish you the best!
Isn’t it weird; People are told to exercise in order to keep BP under control or to reduce it and then they are told they may be training too hard because the medication prevents the body’s ability to respond to the increased oxygen demand. Isn’t that a bad medication?
Throughout my life of 75 years I did lots of running – very hard runnning up mountains, 20 km most evenings, and even marathons in my fifties. Now I have had to stop because I have worn my knees out. But the other day I went for a run and afterwards took my blood pressure. It was about 20 lower than normal. I asked my doctor why this should be and he said that it is because the blood vessels expand when there is exercise and thus blood pressure is lowered. So I disagree with what you were told. Keep on running – 5 kms is a very good distance.
I have found that ANY exercise lowers blood pressure. My BP, after vigorous exercise, is (typicaly) 100 – 55 with a pulse rate of 65, but I do think Doctors and nurses get extremely nervous at a systolic figure below 100! (…BTW, I am on medication)