I did a search on hypertension on this site so it seems like I'm am not alone here and there is quite a resource to draw from. So perhaps I can get some idea what I am looking at with my situation.
I'm only 34, started swimming again nearly a year ago. Partly because I new I had high blood pressure, but mostly I started swimming for overall health and fitness benifits. Since then I have lost roughly 30 pounds. At 6'2" I now weigh about 200 pounds. I would expect that all this work would have some impact on my blood pressure. Especially since I rarely drink, and my diet isn't terrible. I generally eat healthy meals. But the sad truth is that it hasn't changed. Nearly a year ago my BP was 140 over 100. This week... The same. Absolutely no change!!! As a result, my doctor put me on Lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor. So naturally I concerned about a few things.
1. Does this mean I will be taking BP medication for the rest of my life?
2. How will this impact my swimming/ability to train? is there a better medication that I should ask about so there are not adverse effects?
3. Do I need to start taking things easier in the pool?
4. Since I have a family history of hypertension does this mean there is really nothing I can do aside from medication?
5. Anything else I need to be concerned about?
Thanks in advance for any advice or helpful comments.
Kevin
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Former Member
Wow Bob,
Thanks for such a detailed response.
Just an update.
So far I haven't really felt much of a difference training or swimming. And I swam a meet this past sunday where I challenged myself to swim all of the freestyle events in one day (50, 100, 200, 400 LCM). The last swim was the 400 and I just missed breaking 5 minutes by less than half a second. Not a great time, but it felt solid after a long day of swimming. And I while I didn't push it hard in any one race, swimming 4 good races in one day has gone a long way in trusting my body again.
I've also started watching what I eat and have set a goal to get down to 190 by worlds. When I first went to the doctor I weighed roughly 205 and I am already down to 199.
My next doctors appointment is in a week and a half so hopefully I'll shown some sign of improvement. I also plan to talk with him about supplements and about having some of the other risk factors you mentioned checked.
Thanks
Kevin
Wow Bob,
Thanks for such a detailed response.
Just an update.
So far I haven't really felt much of a difference training or swimming. And I swam a meet this past sunday where I challenged myself to swim all of the freestyle events in one day (50, 100, 200, 400 LCM). The last swim was the 400 and I just missed breaking 5 minutes by less than half a second. Not a great time, but it felt solid after a long day of swimming. And I while I didn't push it hard in any one race, swimming 4 good races in one day has gone a long way in trusting my body again.
I've also started watching what I eat and have set a goal to get down to 190 by worlds. When I first went to the doctor I weighed roughly 205 and I am already down to 199.
My next doctors appointment is in a week and a half so hopefully I'll shown some sign of improvement. I also plan to talk with him about supplements and about having some of the other risk factors you mentioned checked.
Thanks
Kevin
