Healthy Blood Pressure While Exercising

If you want to get the many benefits that regular exercise can provide, you need to work out at a level that is vigorous enough to stress the body. This means you will be out of breath, sweating and causing your heart rate to elevate. During an exercise session that is done at an appropriate level, there are changes to your blood pressure as well. Here's some basic information as to what healthy blood pressure responses to exercise should be.

Aerobic Exercise and Blood Pressure

• During aerobic exercise, your body needs more blood and oxygen in order to continue the activity. Your systolic blood pressure will rise as this demand is met, while your diastolic pressure will remain the same or drop slightly.

Healthy Blood Pressure Responses During Aerobic Exercise

• In healthy individuals, the systolic blood pressure should progressively rise along with the intensity of the activity. It should then progressively lower as the activity is stopped. You should be concerned if your systolic blood pressure does not rise at all during aerobic exercise. See your doctor if your diastolic blood pressure rises more then 10mmHG either during or after exercise.

Isometric Contractions

• Isometric exercises are ones in which you push against an immovable object without changing the angle of the joint. This type of exercise can create a dangerously high level of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This type of exercise should be avoided in those with high blood pressure and heart conditions.

Weight Lifting

• Weight lifting involves exercise that move the body through a full range of motion against some kind of resistance. When you are lifting the weight, your blood pressure can rise. This is especially true if you hold your breath or inhale while lifting weights. Always exhale when lifting the weight and make sure you breathe steadily throughout the exercise.

Healthy Blood Pressure Responses During Weight Training

• Your blood pressure can rise dramatically during weight lifting, and the amount it rises depends on how much weight you are lifting. In healthy individuals, the blood pressure should return to normal when lifting is stopped. Stop lifting and call your doctor if you feel faint, dizzy or lightheaded. This can be a sign that your blood pressure went too high.