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 am bringing this thread back because my recent experience might be of interest to some. Getting back in the pool seems to have done wonders for significant hypertension.
My blood pressure in January was, even with the medication I'd been taking for four years, 155/115. Far too high. Four months later my BP is 122/75. The only major change in my life is that I am now swimming about 3 times a week, about what I can manage with work and business travel.
I am getting some form back, but am not even back to the (also slow) level I was at six years ago --but I was younger then, wasn't I, and am now 57.
What's also interesting is that I am more compact. Thinner would be a nice concept but my BMI is over 30 and so that doesn't really seem the right word. And while everyone thinks I have lost weight, which I wish, I have not lost even a pound, but yes I am a different shape.
The rise and fall of my blood pressure seems to correlate with changes from more active to more sedentary life and back, and age.
But as the blood pressure seems to be responding to the swimming, I am increasing my yardage and my speed and talking to my physician about reducing the amount of medication I have been taking.
This probably is not helpful for those swimmers who already are training at a high level. But it could be a word of encouragement to keep in the pool and active, because it seems that it was a lapse in the swimming at a certain age that led to this problem.
I am bringing this thread back because my recent experience might be of interest to some. Getting back in the pool seems to have done wonders for significant hypertension.
My blood pressure in January was, even with the medication I'd been taking for four years, 155/115. Far too high. Four months later my BP is 122/75. The only major change in my life is that I am now swimming about 3 times a week, about what I can manage with work and business travel.
I am getting some form back, but am not even back to the (also slow) level I was at six years ago --but I was younger then, wasn't I, and am now 57.
What's also interesting is that I am more compact. Thinner would be a nice concept but my BMI is over 30 and so that doesn't really seem the right word. And while everyone thinks I have lost weight, which I wish, I have not lost even a pound, but yes I am a different shape.
The rise and fall of my blood pressure seems to correlate with changes from more active to more sedentary life and back, and age.
But as the blood pressure seems to be responding to the swimming, I am increasing my yardage and my speed and talking to my physician about reducing the amount of medication I have been taking.
This probably is not helpful for those swimmers who already are training at a high level. But it could be a word of encouragement to keep in the pool and active, because it seems that it was a lapse in the swimming at a certain age that led to this problem.
