Why is it ok for blood pressure to rise quite high during exercise?

[TrappedInSlothBody]

Maybe I'm being very dim here. As far as I can make out from both asking my doctor and trying to read a little more online, it seems that if blood pressure goes up during exercise (to levels that definitely would be hypertension if they were readings taken at rest) nobody is concerned about that doing any damage?

As long as it comes back down within a short period after the exercise it doesn't seem to be a problem?

Why is that? Is it something to do with it being a short term thing as opposed to if your BP was high pretty much all the time?

Am I misunderstanding?

As an example - after rushing from the train gulping down a double espresso my blood pressure reading was 150 over 89 at my gp It had come down to 120 over 75 by the end of the appointment but got me thinking that surely at the gym when I'm killing myself running it must really go much higher?!

When lazing around at home completely relaxed it's normally around 100 over 60 something.

It’s entirely different when your blood pressure is temporarily raised due to increased cardiovascular activity, it’s not indicative of a problem whereas high blood pressure while doing a steady slow activity ia indicative of a problem.

Because you need the extra blood to do the exercise. Just like how your heart rate is faster when you exercise because your body needs it to do the extra work.

Raised BP owing to your heart working harder because you are exercising is very different to raised BP because you have hardening of the arteries or kidney/heart problems.

But why though?

Is it because the extra strain on blood vessels etc is only temporary, and the vascular system can cope with it fine for short spells?

I genuinely don't understand it!

Also, I wish stress induced elevated blood pressure counted as cardio. Seems unfair that it doesn't.

Oh I see - so the large muscles groups, like in your legs for running, need the blood pumped there faster?

Also, if you get very fit, does blood pressure sort of reduce relatively speaking?

Like say people doing a marathon - surely their BP isn't high the whole way through?

Your blood pressure is supposed to go really high during strenuous activity to make sure that oxygen gets everywhere that needs it. That’s normal, healthy and short term. Having high blood pressure all the time is dangerous as it’s much longer term-and, of course, means your blood pressure goes even higher when exercising.

Presumably if you are really fit your blood pressure is generally fairly low

My resting heart rate is in its 50's. I'm 47 and very fit so it's low. I guess blood pressure must be same

your muscles require more oxygen so the heart has to pump harder. But if your BP stays high for a while after exercise, that can be risky. Otherwise exercising regularly makes your heart stronger (it’s mainly muscle) and therefore better at maintaining your BP at normal levels all the time. Short spikes are not harmful in a healthy person but raised BP for long periods is dangerous.

Right, but if your BP was measured when you were running fast, surely it would be higher than your resting BP?

But presumably lower than an unfit person.

Yes but if it drops back really quickly this is a measure of how fit you are.

OP I think you're looking at it the wrong way round. Your blood pressure being high isn't necessarily the problem, but the reason your blood pressure is high is indicative of a problem

So exercise = heart works harder to get oxygen to muscles and remove carbon dioxide, so blood pressure is raised. Nothing to worry about.

High cholesterol = vessels are narrowed causing, the high BP. Something to worry about.