Exercise and Blood Pressure!
Exercise and Blood Pressure!
About 70 million American adults have high blood pressure—that’s 1 of every 3 adults. Only about half of people with high blood pressure have their condition under control and nearly 1 of 3 American adults has prehypertension—blood pressure numbers that are higher than normal, but not yet in the high blood pressure range. High blood pressure costs the nation $46 billion each year. This total includes the cost of health care services, medications to treat high blood pressure, and missed days of work. Follow these tips for a drug-free approach to prevent you from becoming one of these statistics.
- Exercise- A strong heart pumps more blood with less effort. If your heart works less to pump, the force on your arteries decreases, resulting in a lower blood pressure. Becoming more active can lower your systolic blood pressure-the top number in a blood pressure reading. Regular exercise also helps you maintain a healthy weight, another important way to control blood pressure. It can take from one to three months of regular exercise to have an impact on your blood pressure. To keep your blood pressure low, you need to make exercise a healthy habit.
- Weight Training- Weightlifting can have long-term benefits on your blood pressure. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends incorporating strength-training exercises of all the major muscle groups into a fitness routine at least two times a week.
- Monitor Your Blood Pressure– The only way to detect high blood pressure is to monitor your blood pressure readings. Have your blood pressure checked at each doctor’s visit, or use a home blood pressure monitor. When checking your blood pressure, keep in mind that you’ll get the most accurate readings if you check your blood pressure before you exercise.
Research has found that regular exercise dramatically reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Making exercise a part of your routine has been clearly proven to play an important role in prevention of hypertension. So what are you waiting for? We all strive for a healthier lifestyle. Do not become one of those statistics. Exercise and resistance training can benefit you in all aspects of your life. To learn more about lowering your blood pressure, exercise, strength training, staying in shape, or if you’ve been thinking about hiring a personal trainer, contact us.
