high blood pressure and cardio exercise

[myboychuck]

I am 29 years old and have been taking atenolol for high blood pressure for about 3 years. I have recently started working out and doing cardio at home. I noticed if i take my meds before working out i cant get my heart rate up and I'm wondering if I'm just wasting time. Do i still get the same benefit of cardio when i cant get my heart rate up? Im trying to lose weight and dont burn as many calories.

[mum2four]

I can tell you haveing a high heart rate(tachycardia) has not improved my abilty to loose weight. I seriously doubt heart rate is the only facter to lossing weight and staying fit. Look at athletes there heart rates stay low and there very fit. I would take it as sign that you fit and keep exersizing to stay fit.

[cindy707]

Hi i read your post.   The benefits far outweigh the downside of your heart not working as hard. One of the benefits of antenolol is to relax the heart so that it doesn't have to work as hard and lower your blood pressure as well.  The heart is a muscle and like all of the muscles of the body working out and cardio are actually strengthening it.  If you are trying to lose weight it is actually a little safer to you until you drop off the pounds to sort of put a saety net around your heart and that is what the antenolol will do for you.  You will continue to burn calories no matter what when you work out so i wouldn't worry about that too much.  With any meds you want to try to take them at the same time each day....say when you brush your teeth in the morning, or before you go to bed at nite....  You are 100% not wasting your time working out.  You are building strength in your body and muscles and its a wonderful thing that you are doing.  Whatever you do don;'t stop and you may want to get a re check from your doc once you do lose the weight because packing on pounds raises anyones blood pressure and who knows if you reach your goal weight maybe just maybe your doc will keep an eye on you blood pressure for a couple a weeks and decide they can lower your dose or even eliminate the meds....just make sure that you talk to your doc before stopping or adjusting any meds...congrats on your life change......