Hypertension. Control by Drugs or Excercise?

Hi. I'm 39, maybe a little over weight (not excessively though) and I have a fairly sedentary lifestyle. I bought a bicycle a few weeks ago and I can riding for two hours straight with no difficulty (up, down and on the flat).

My blood pressure varies from 140/90 to 160/100. My doctor just wants me to get more excercise and has not suggested medication so far.

Is it possible to get my blood pressure down to an acceptable range with only excercise? I lead a busy life, so can only really fit in two, two hour bicycle riding session a week. Is this enough?

[Jack54]

It's gonna be tough to bring your BP down with exercise alone. If you get down to your ideal body weight and exercise on a regular basis, you might get you BP down a bit.

You are far above the recommenced BP guidelines. Hypertension is very damaging to the heart, lungs and arteries, over time. I guess it is damaging to all of the main organs of the body. You are at the age that many people have to start BP medication.

It would surely be best if you could do this without medicine, but I doubt it. Please don't let me discourage you.

You also need your doctor to determine if this is primary hypertension or secondary hypertension. An example of secondary hypertension would be a blockage in one of you renal arteries, or an adrenal gland tumor. Secondary hypertension is the cause of hypertension in only about 5% of  the cases of high BP, but the hypertension goes away when the problem is fixed.  Most high BP is caused by idiopathic primary hypertension.

Best of luck :)

[babashouse]

Thanks

My mum has been ob BP medication since her early 40s and both her parents and brother had/have it (all on medication).

IS BP medication very effective?

[pvcqueen]

watch your sodium intake, and keep it under 2000mg/day..see if that helps.

[Barbarella]

Yes, BP meds are effective.  If you cannot get it down with exercise, life style changes etc. and you have to take BP meds do not be afraid of them.  Sometimes it takes a few "switching" till the right medication is for you.  Don't be afraid!  Hypertension needs to be treated or it can cause damage to your heart and kidneys and can cause stroke and heart attack.

I used to be so afraid of the side effects, and I never had a side effect to this day.  I'm on a patch (Clonodine patch)  I have to replace every 7 days for the last four yrs, and I couldn't be happier.  BP is fine, and I feel great.

[Itschuck2c]

There are diets that can do it along with exercise, sodium intake reduction is a good starter. Along with real exercise as in working up a good sweat. Start easy though and work your way up to it.
We had a gentleman at work fail a physical due to low blood pressure and low heart rate..turns out for him its normal due to the fact he runs 8 miles a day every day. His resting bp was 89 over 55 and pulse was 60. So exercise can do it!