The Secret To Unlocking Lower Blood Pressure
Whats the secret to unlocking lower blood pressure?
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a widespread health concern affecting around 34% of adults in Australia. Left unmanaged, it can lead to severe complications such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems.
Luckily, we have access to numerous ways to maintain healthy blood pressure levels and lower our risk of all these complications, and one of the most effective and accessible methods is regular exercise.
In this blog, we will explore the relationship between exercise and blood pressure, uncovering the remarkable benefits that physical activity can provide for reducing blood pressure and a bit of an industry secret with reducing blood pressure in the short term.
So, what actually is high blood pressure?
Before delving into the benefits of exercise, let’s grasp the fundamentals of blood pressure.
- Blood pressure refers to the force of our blood exerted on the walls of arteries as the heart pumps it throughout the body.
- It is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and typically recorded as two numbers: systolic pressure over diastolic pressure (e.g., 120/80 mmHg). You’ve probably seen these numbers given to by your GP or another health professional before so it’s worth knowing.
- The systolic pressure represents the force during your heartbeat, while diastolic pressure is the pressure in between our heart beats.
Most people with high blood pressure have been told to exercise to help with lowering blood pressure but what does it actually do?
Interestingly enough regular physical activity offers a huge range of advantages for overall health, and managing blood pressure is just one of them.
Here are some reasons how different aspects of exercise help to lower blood pressure and improve our quality of life.
- Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight plays a crucial role in blood pressure regulation. Exercise aids in weight loss or weight maintenance which can help to improve in lowering your blood pressure with time
- Strengthening the Heart: Regular exercise strengthens the heart muscle, enabling it to pump blood more efficiently. A stronger heart can circulate blood with less effort, resulting in lower blood pressure.
- Promoting Vasodilation: Physical activity acts as a natural vasodilator that widens blood vessels. Vasodilation enhances blood flow and reduces resistance, leading to a decrease in blood pressure.
- Reducing Stress: Exercise is a natural stress reliever. It helps combat anxiety and promotes relaxation, reducing stress hormones such as cortisol. Lower stress levels contribute to a healthier blood pressure profile.
- Enhancing Insulin Sensitivity: Exercise improves insulin sensitivity, allowing cells to use glucose more effectively. Improved blood sugar regulation positively impacts blood pressure control.
So, what’s the secret to immediately reduce your blood pressure?
Something that isn’t spoken about much is the ability for exercise to immediately drop blood pressure as an acute effect straight after a session.
After an exercise session, it has been shown that blood pressure can reduce in a person for as long as 24 hours after the session itself is done!
Although blood pressure drops vary from person to person, it has become clear that we can use exercise sessions more frequently in our week to drop blood pressure.
Its just another strategy we as Exercise Physiologists use to manage someone blood pressure so that they can see lower blood pressure for most, if not all of the week.
If you are unsure of what exercise will be good for lowering blood pressure or what frequency will be ideal for lowering your blood pressure in the week, get in touch with us here at Fighting Fit Physiotherapy as we have Exercise Physiologists who specialise in helping get that blood pressure lower for life!
We can assist you in getting you an individualised program that works for you and your needs.
Renae joined our Exercise Physiology team in 2021.
Having a long history in the health and fitness industry as well as growing up around all things exercise (her mum is also an Exercise Physiologist) this career runs in her blood.
Renae has a love of both strength and conditioning as well as pilates to help people over come injury, pain or health concerns.