Blood pressure occurs when your heart contracts and relaxes upon every beat. When your heart contracts, the blood gets forced into the arteries. The heart contracting is the systolic number, which for a healthy adult should be between 115 and 120. Higher than this would indicate high blood pressure, according to MayoClinic.com. When your heart is in relaxation mode, the blood is replenished,. This is indicated by the diastolic number. This should fall between 75 and 80, as outlined by MayoClinic.com. If the arteries are not healthy, your blood pressure is affected. Blood pressure indicates how much pressure is being used as the blood travels through the arteries.
Effects
Vigorous exercise can affect your blood pressure. For example, an individual with relatively high blood pressure while stationary, could see an increase in her blood pressure after performing strenuous exercise. This increase in blood pressure is called "exercise hypertension," according to the Patient Health International website.
Interaction
Your organs and tissues need more oxygen when you are exercising, and your blood carries the required extra oxygen to them. According to Patient Health International, research has shown that an increase in blood pressure happens because the body needs more oxygen, so the body has to work harder to replenish the oxygen. Research has also shown that exercise can reduce your blood pressure and that people who exercise regularly tend to have lower blood pressure. Exercising decreases levels of hormones such as epinephrine and norepinerphrine, which reduce the size of the arteries, which reduces blood pressure.
Additional Factors
Another factor that could affect your blood pressure is dehydration. If you exercise and fail to consume enough water to replenish the lost fluids, this could increase your blood pressure.
Research
Research carried out at the Johns Hopkins University in 2003 examined 82 adults from age 55 to 75, all of which were suffering from hypertension. Their blood pressure was tested before and after vigorous exercise. Scans were also taken of the volunteers' bodies, to see how their arteries responded to the increase of blood travelling through them. The research showed that the volunteers' blood pressure increased after and during exercise. This indicated that their arteries were struggling to adequately expand to make way for the increased level of blood flow.
Considerations
Considering the research carried out by Johns Hopkins University, exercise hypertension could mean that exercise could lead to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and other heart-related disorders, according to Patient Health International. People with high blood pressure should consult their doctor before starting a strenuous exercise regime.
References
- Patient Health International: Exercise Hypertension
- The University of New Mexico: Exploring the Mysteries of Exercise
- MayoClinic.com: Low Blood Pressure
- Johns Hopkins University: "Exercise Hypertension" Occurs When Cells Can't "Relax," Hopkins Researchers Find
- American Journal of Hypertension: Exaggerated Exercise: Blood Pressure is Related to Impaired Endothelial Vasodilator Function
