Low Heart rate and High Blood pressure

[Annieogle]

My resting heart rate is 48 (less than 40 if I get very cold). My body fat is less than 20% (I am a woman) as I exercise a lot (I am a personal trainer). My diet is dominated by fruit and veg, I only drink at weekends. However, my blood pressure is 150/93. Is there a relationship between the first and last? Am I exercising at too high heart rates? Please advise as I don't know how to bring down my B.P.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

If your heart rate is low because of exercise, that is great. I doubt there is a clear link between your bradycardia and hypertension.  Some very healthy people develope essential hypertension -- I know it hurts a little more when you treat your body well, but it happens.  The key is treating the blood pressure before it leads to vascular injury of the long term.  If you truly have a healthy lifestyle, you might need medications to bring it down.  There is no data that I know of suggesting intense exercise leads to hypertension.

I hope this helps.  Thanks for posting.

[Gyps]

I couldn't help noticing your posting for I have a low heart rate also.  Runs most of the time at 50 but if move around a lot can get it up in high 50s.  I have been diagnosed with systolic hypertension and bp will run in the 170s down to in the 140s.  Few times it has gone to the 130s but not often.  For past month or so I'm having really bad pedal edema and lab test all normal...liver, bun, creatine, tsh.
My work keeps me in an office all day long and am having fatigue above what I would consider normal.  Good luck to you though. For me?   About figured I am facing possible cervical surgery and after that will just go on and rest when can and do when I can.  12 different meds didn't bring my bp down any lower so finally am on just maxzide.