Lowering high blood pressure

[DaveOZ]

YEH HAH!!

I've always had high blood pressure since I was about 35. My parent both have high BP too. I'm now 45. A few years ago I had to have a routine stress test on a treadmill and my blood pressure was so high that the doctor recommended I see a cardiologist. The doc said I had a high BP but not dangerous. It was normally ~155/93+. He suggested the only way to be sure I was 'safe' was to have an angiogram. I did. My arteries were normal for a non-smoking man of my age. The cardiologist suggested I don't need medication and should lose some weight and exercise more.

Well after a few false starts with cycling and lots of excuses I have managed to ride 130-190km each week for the past 5 weeks and have lost 5kg.

Today my blood pressure was tested consistently at 114/73 and my pulse has come down to 65. This is awesome news for me because I have avoided medication and I feel so much better.

So regular, hard exercise like cycling really does work but then I bet you all know that. I've now got my 70yo father on a bike and hopefully he will see the same benefits over time.

Keep riding!

[sogood]

That's pretty amazing for just a few weeks work. But bear in mind that one's BP and HR can vary wildly under special circumstances eg. In a doctor's surgery. One off measurement is not sufficient to make a diagnosis.

[DaveOZ]

I should clarify that I have been riding for a year now, but it's only been the last 5 weeks that I have been able to keep the miles up without distractions. I have my own BP meter and have seen it slowly come down to these levels.

[foo on patrol]

That's good to hear Dave but does not always apply to everyone.

Can help lower some peoples pressure but not all the time.

[Baldy]

I've now got my 70yo father on a bike and hopefully he will see the same benefits over time.

I have no idea about BP but I know what I like........^^that