Blood pressure describes the amount of force placed on the walls of your arteries when your heart beats. If you have abnormally high blood pressure, also called hypertension, you can develop a number serious health complications, including heart disease, heart attack and stroke. While you can and should exercise if you have extremely high blood pressure, high-intensity activities like running are not typically recommended.
Blood Pressure Basics
Blood pressure readings measure the force in your arteries when your heart is beating, as well as between beats. Pressure measured during a heartbeat is called systolic pressure, while pressure measured between beats is called diastolic pressure. When you view a blood pressure result, the systolic reading comes first, followed by the diastolic reading. Normally, your blood pressure should fall below 120/80 mmHg, or millimeters of mercury. If you have systolic pressure ranging from 120 and 139 mmHg, or diastolic pressure ranging from 80 to 89 mmHg, you have a condition called prehypertension. If you have an overall reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher, you have high blood pressure.
Appropriate Exercise
Regular physical activity can lower high blood pressure or prevent hypertension from occurring in the first place, according to the American Council on Exercise. Current evidence suggests the best type of exercise for individuals with hypertension utilizes 40 to 75 percent of the body's maximum oxygen supply. Examples of exercises that fall into this low- to medium-intensity range include swimming, walking, low-impact aerobics and bicycling. Depending on your circumstances, you can gain blood pressure benefits by performing these activities in 30- to 60-minute sessions anywhere from three to six times a week.
High-Intensity Exercise
If you already have hypertension, high-intensity exercises like running can potentially trigger harmful fluctuations in your blood pressure, ACE explains. Before you start exercising, consult your doctor and ask him to help you design a program that fits your current health restrictions and needs. Potential additional factors in planning an appropriate program include your current level of physical activity and the time you can consistently reserve for exercise. If you are not used to exercising, you will typically need to build up your stamina over time.
Warning Signs
Whatever type of hypertension exercise program your doctor approves, you should stop exercising and seek medical attention if you develop certain symptoms, according to HealthTree.com. Examples of include dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness, persistent chest pain, unexplained swelling and pain or pressure in your shoulders, chest, neck, jaw or arms. Consult your doctor for additional information on hypertension-related exercise warning signs.
Considerations
Hypertension can sometimes occur in individuals who run regularly or in other very fit athletes, according to Dr. Cathy Fieseler of Running Times. In addition to your physical fitness, MayoClinic.com lists factors influencing your blood pressure that include diet, body weight, age, ethnic background, family history, stress levels and use of alcohol and tobacco. You can also develop hypertension if you have chronic conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea, kidney disease or high cholesterol.
