Exercise combined with a balanced diet is a key weapon for high blood pressure. However, for patients dealing with severe hypertension, strenuous exercise can be dangerous.

Key Highlights

  • Hypertension or high blood pressure refers to a state wherein the pressure of blood flow against vessels and arteries is extremely high.
  • Ideally, experts recommend more exercise for hypertension patients to increase heart rate, keep blood vessels healthy and bring blood pressure down.
  • If your BP is higher than 180/100mmHg, check with a healthcare expert before proceeding.

Hypertension or high blood pressure refers to a state wherein the pressure of blood flow against vessels and arteries is extremely high. Often referred to as a silent killer, hypertension comes with no prominent symptoms and can over time result in a heart attack or stroke if not treated timely. While experts have for long stressed on the importance of following a healthy diet and regular workout routine for maximum benefits, it is important to know when one needs to stop.

Can exercise be fatal for hypertension patients?

Exercise combined with a balanced diet is a key weapon for high blood pressure. However, for patients dealing with severe hypertension, strenuous exercise can be dangerous.

On one hand, moderate intensity workout five times a week is a must for all, especially for the older adults. It helps maintain healthy body weight, improves cardiovascular health, delays cognitive decline and may even support diabetes management.

Ideally, experts recommend more exercise for hypertension patients to increase heart rate, keep blood vessels healthy and bring blood pressure down. However, if the blood pressure is too high and you are not accustomed to a lot of exercise, experts recommend going for BP lowering medication before going for exercises. This is advised because exercise temporarily raises blood pressure.

At first, this can feel uncomfortable; and if your blood pressure is already too high, it can be further risky. If your BP is higher than 180/100mmHg, check with a healthcare expert before proceeding.

Which form of workout is ideal for hypertension patients?

As per the Blood Pressure UK, aerobic exercise is ideal for patients with high blood pressure. This form of workout focuses on cardiovascular health, raises heart rate over a period of time and leaves you feeling out of breath. The best aerobic workouts for hypertension patients include:

  1. Swimming
  2. Running
  3. Dancing
  4. Jogging
  5. Walking

Start gradually and increase the intensity over time as your stamina increases.

Hypertension patients should opt out of sprinting and intense weight lifting as these workouts take maximum effort for a short activity. Activities like parachuting and scuba diving are also not recommended.

If you are into smoking, or are obese with family history of heart disease, you are considered as part of the high risk group for hypertension. England’s National Health Service recommends every person above 40 years of age to get their blood pressure levels checked every five years. The high-risk group of patients, too, must go for timely check-ups to avoid long-term risk of chronic heart disease.