High blood pressure and running

[veneeroftheweek]

I'm fairly sure the doctor is going to offer me medication for my high blood pressure. I went for an appointment about something else and my nap was very high. I've been on a 24 hour bp monitor and the readings were consistently high when I looked. I'm going back to discuss when the results come in.

I exercise regularly (ran a half marathon earlier this year and training for another) don't smoke, don't drink to excess and eat a pretty healthy mostly pescatarian diet (with room for improvement on salty food) but my mum who has a super healthy lifestyle is on medication for high bp.

I'm freaking out though. Can I go for a run before I get the medication? Can anyone give me any good news stories about exercising with high blood pressure? I feel very gloomy and am worried I'll drop down dead.

I don't know, but I was diagnosed with (very) high bp after having dc. I was overweight and unfit and decided I had to do something about it, so I started Couch to 5k. I was terrified that although running would be good for me in the long term, it might dangerously spike my bp. I did it anyway and as a result gradually reduced my bp meds and lost weight and ended up at half marathon distance.

I'd ask your gp though, if I were you.

Decrease the salty food by a lot - virtually everything prepared has loads of salt in - and swear at your crap genes.

Also talk to your mum as she seems to share your genes.

Well done on your running journey lazylinguist. Are you on any bp medication now?

I'm massively reducing my consumption of bread, marmite and cheese in the hope that will help. And cursing my genes, yes.

I’m on 10mg amlodopine (so) per day which brings my BP to a pretty healthy range. I’m 60 though so age probably has something to do with it (and a pretty high-powered demanding job and being a workaholic ).

I lost around 13kg last year through better diet and calorie counting plus ramping up the exercise. I’ve worked with a trainer weekly for 18 months which has been amazing in terms of my fitness. And I don’t feel any side effects from the medication now.

I’m reluctant to go off the medication but I see my fitness as part of necessary “self-care.” And my GP said I should do whatever exercise I enjoy and as much as I liked.

I wear a FitBit with a HR monitor and even when I feel like I’m dying during a bit of HHIT training (the ski erg machine or the assault bike for 50 calories, OMG) my heart rate doesn’t seem to go above 145 - which is high but not dangerous and I recover and get back down to 110 within a couple of minutes.

You sound very fit so I wouldn’t worry! They all hypertension the silent killer so it’s great that you’re being treated. I hated the thought of being medicated for the rest of my life, but I want the rest of my life to last as long as it can!

Well done on your running journey lazylinguist. Are you on any bp medication now?

Thanks! Yes, a low dose beta blocker, been on it for years, but more as a precautionary measure to stop potential bp spikes. My regular bp is ok.

I've let the salt creep back up actually- should reduce again. The good news is once you cut salt down, you really don't want it as much. Restaurant food in particular tastes outrageously salty!

Yes, I really need to retrain my palate. I'm definitely more inclined to salty food rather than sweet. I hope it doesn't take too long.

Mouthyharpy - I agree that fitness is an essential part of self care. I want to run this weekend but I'm too scared!