Hypertension

The controllable risk factors of high blood pressure can often be improved through healthy lifestyle habits including stress management, exercise and healthy eating.

The following guidelines may be used to reduce risk of injury when exercising, but are in no way meant to replace your own physician’s (or other health professional) advice.

1. Physician approval is required for participation.
2. The medications used for controlling high blood pressure may affect your heart rate. Please ask your Physician is you are taking any medication that may affect your exercise performance or response. This information will be recorded on your workout journal. Please notify us of any changes in your medication.
3. If your heart rate is slowed my medication, Perceived Exertion is the preferred method for monitoring your body’s response to exercise intensity.
4. Care should be taken to stay sufficiently hydrated, especially in a hot and humid environment. Excessive sweating could lead to a hypotensive response and/or cause changes in serum electrolyte balance.
5. Exercise on a resilient floor surface that provides cushion and stability.
6. Select an exercise shoe with good shock absorption, lateral support and stability, flexibility, arch support, width, ventilation and comfort.
7. Be sure to include an extended warm-up (10 minutes) to prepare your body for the more vigorous movement to come.
8. Maintain a low to moderate intensity level during cardiovascular exercise. On the revised Perceived Exertion scale, that would correlate with 2 – 3, light to moderate.
9. Static exercises, such as isometrics, which often lead to breath-holding, may place excessive stress on your heart.
10. Limit the length of time your arms remain elevated above your shoulder when doing strength training or aerobics. This can elevate your blood pressure, especially when using hand weights.
11. Strength train begin with low intensity, low repetition.  Gradually increase the number of repetitions only, maintaining a low to moderate intensity.
12. Avoid sustained gripping of a weight due to the possible increase of blood pressure.
13. Breathing should be steady throughout all exercises. During strengthening exercises, exhale on the exertion, or most difficult part of the movement. During cardiovascular exercises, breathe rhythmically and comfortably through both your nose and mouth.
14. Do not remain in a forward-bent position with your head lower than your heart for an extended period of time because this may lead to hypotension. Avoid exercises in which your feet are higher than your head.
15. Include an extended cool-down (at least 10 minutes). Raise your body to a standing position very slowly to avoid fainting or dizziness resulting from hypotension.
16. Please notify your trainer and your physician is you experience any pain or abnormal symptoms before, during and after your workout.