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
Parents
Former Member
I'm a bit late to this thread but I hope I can add something. I am an internist who has treated many hundreds of people with hypertension. Most not nearly as active as Masters swimmers, but more than enough to give some broad perspectives.
First, though hypertension should be carefully managed over the long term, stage I hypertension isn't a short term threat. It should still be managed, though. It is far worse off to intend to change your lifestyle somehow and ignore high readings for years. Its a bummer taking a pill, but by all means you should be able to find a bp medication that gives you no or almost no side effects; there are many available.
Lifestyle management can be great for some, but on average we only get about 6-8 mm difference. It can be hard, but if you are motivated, use the DASH diet (you can google that). If you are stage I, give the lifestyle 6 months but don't ignore persistently high readings.
Office hypertension is common, but you have to be careful in relying on home readings. Use an arm cuff, learn how to do it right; the right way to take your bp isn't hard, but there are a lot of ways to screw it up. BP is a moving target; highest in the first hour of the AM, lower during the day. You'll want to find your running average. And the target of home bp readings should be lower, probably 130/80, as for most of us our bp goes up in the office setting. That said, office readings are the most standardized assessment there is, and unless you can verify a strong discrepancy, I'd suggest you trust the office reading.
There's no reason that hypertension should impede an active lifestyle. Even weights should be fine as long as the resistance is moderate and the reps are at least 5-6 (as a general rule). I also agree with making sure other vascular risk factors, such as blood sugar, lipids, and sleep apnea are addressed.
Good luck, and don't let it slow you down!
I'm a bit late to this thread but I hope I can add something. I am an internist who has treated many hundreds of people with hypertension. Most not nearly as active as Masters swimmers, but more than enough to give some broad perspectives.
First, though hypertension should be carefully managed over the long term, stage I hypertension isn't a short term threat. It should still be managed, though. It is far worse off to intend to change your lifestyle somehow and ignore high readings for years. Its a bummer taking a pill, but by all means you should be able to find a bp medication that gives you no or almost no side effects; there are many available.
Lifestyle management can be great for some, but on average we only get about 6-8 mm difference. It can be hard, but if you are motivated, use the DASH diet (you can google that). If you are stage I, give the lifestyle 6 months but don't ignore persistently high readings.
Office hypertension is common, but you have to be careful in relying on home readings. Use an arm cuff, learn how to do it right; the right way to take your bp isn't hard, but there are a lot of ways to screw it up. BP is a moving target; highest in the first hour of the AM, lower during the day. You'll want to find your running average. And the target of home bp readings should be lower, probably 130/80, as for most of us our bp goes up in the office setting. That said, office readings are the most standardized assessment there is, and unless you can verify a strong discrepancy, I'd suggest you trust the office reading.
There's no reason that hypertension should impede an active lifestyle. Even weights should be fine as long as the resistance is moderate and the reps are at least 5-6 (as a general rule). I also agree with making sure other vascular risk factors, such as blood sugar, lipids, and sleep apnea are addressed.
Good luck, and don't let it slow you down!
