getting fit!

[formergpWTF]

Hey guys! I have recently been told I have high blood pressure (180/100) and am obviously keen to bring this down - I am only 21! I have thrown a fair amount of abuse at my body over the years and want to try and rectify this to some extent. Do any of you guys know any good websites or fitness plans? All i have been doing is going for runs but would like a bit of guidance... Cheers!

[Velvetee]

That BP is very high, especially for someone of your age. I'm sure you know, with such dangerously high blood pressure, you are at risk of heart disease and possible early death. Normal BP is 120/80 and stage 1 Hypertension begins at 140/90.

In order to start reducing your blood pressure, you obviously need to look at your diet, cut out bad fats and refined Carbohydrates. You should exercise your heart by doing moderate intensity cardiovascular exercise, so any exercise which increases the heartrate and encourages you to breathe faster.

You could start off with walking for 20 minutes per day, gradually building up to a brisk walk. Cycling and swimming are good too.

If you go to a gym, then treadmill walking, cycling, gentle rowing and cross training are good. For moderate intensity exercise, your heartrate should rise to about 130 beats per minute. At gyms, the machines are equiped with heartrate monitors, but if you are walking or cycling, you can wear a telemetric strap around your chest, it links in with a special watch, which shows your heartrate.

Keep up the moderate intensity exercise until your fitness level increase. Be cautious about doing weights, as weight training can cause the blood pressure to rise. If you do weights in due course, then take your blood pressure before the session and again after, to check that it isn't rising too high, but start off getting your cardiac fitness to a good level before you start weights.

Hope that helps a bit. Good luck.

[formergpWTF]

cheers v! il keep you posted! The 180/100 was taken at a stressful job interview btw so was particularly high but still obviously not good.

[sqad617]

Aged 21 with high BP that needs medical investigation.
Make appt with GP 2 verify BP and you will certainly require blood tests, ECG and possibly kidney investigation.

[andrea81]

Agree that you should get this investigated as it might be medical problem. You could always go to have it tested by nurse and if it is still up ask to see a doc about it.

I was put on a 24 hour BP monitor and a 24 hour ECG as an outpatient, so could go home and see how my BP and heart was during normal daily activities. Ended up just being anxious and not having a condition.

Worth checking out though!

[GEEMAC]

I think if your BP was taken at a job interview (hope you got the job btw.) as opposed to your GP, then I would tell your GP and get it regularly monitored. DON'T JUST IGNORE IT and hope it will get better if you go for a jog now and again. They'll help with diet and execise plans but it's mostly common sense and probably stuff you want to hear!

Good luck.

[GEEMAC]

'...stuff you WON'T want to hear'

[formergpWTF]

cheers guys! ye i had the ecg n tht came back clear as did the blood test. Did the 24hr thingy last wk so am waiting for the results on tht. Mite well be tht I am just anxious as Im goin through a bit of a rum old time atm anyway. thx for all your help and suggestions!