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How Does Exercising Affect Blood Pressure?

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Posted on Fri, 21 Nov 2014
Question: Hi,
What happens to the blood pressure of a person with hypertension after doing big muscle groups vs. small muscle groups? As well as vigorous aerobic exercise?

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Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
BP elevates with exercise

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM

You are concerned about blood pressure effects while exercising. In any type of exercise when the pulse elevates the blood pressure with go up also. So in people who are doing small muscle group exercises the amount of energy expended will be smaller and the amount of elevated heart rate will be small. When doing large muscle groups like legs there is more expenditure of energy and more work that will increase the heart rate and blood pressure

There is a direct correlation between heart rate and blood pressure.

In persons who have been exercising a lot and in good condition like marathon runners their resting heart rate maybe in the 60s. With vigorous exercise their heart rate may only get to the 90 or 100. so their overall blood pressure remains stable. For someone who is not in shape the resting heart beat is already in the 80s or 90s and then with mild exercise the heart rate increases to 110 or higher their blood pressure will go up more.

Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your medical concerns and questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Follow up: Dr. Ronald Schubert (13 minutes later)
Are there any changes or differences when a person with hypertension is in a supine position versus a upright seated position when exercising?
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Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (7 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Minor changes

Detailed Answer:
When a person with high blood pressure is laying flat their blood pressure will be at its lowest. So when exercising while laying they will can still see elevations but not to extremes. In the supine position the blood is more available because it does not have to fight gravity to flow through the body. SO the blood pressure would be lower. An extreme example of this is astronauts in space have to exercise regularly to help maintain blood pressure and help prevent osteoporosis. When the return to earth they are placed in wheel chairs or recliners because now gravity is pulling on the blood and their heart is unable to pump eventually enough to maintain blood pressures.

In exercising in a seated position the body is still not at full upright position and pressures are slightly lower than standing. Exercising may elevate with being in a seated position but depending on the how vigorous the exercise may elevate. in other words while seated the diaphragm does not have the full extent to breath and may hamper exercise. This may cause more elevation in blood pressure.

Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your medical concerns or questions.
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. Ronald Schubert

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 2407 Questions

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How Does Exercising Affect Blood Pressure?

Brief Answer: BP elevates with exercise Detailed Answer: Thanks for contacting HCM You are concerned about blood pressure effects while exercising. In any type of exercise when the pulse elevates the blood pressure with go up also. So in people who are doing small muscle group exercises the amount of energy expended will be smaller and the amount of elevated heart rate will be small. When doing large muscle groups like legs there is more expenditure of energy and more work that will increase the heart rate and blood pressure There is a direct correlation between heart rate and blood pressure. In persons who have been exercising a lot and in good condition like marathon runners their resting heart rate maybe in the 60s. With vigorous exercise their heart rate may only get to the 90 or 100. so their overall blood pressure remains stable. For someone who is not in shape the resting heart beat is already in the 80s or 90s and then with mild exercise the heart rate increases to 110 or higher their blood pressure will go up more. Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your medical concerns and questions