Blood Pressure and Exercise: A Detailed Look

Blood pressure, which represents the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries, is measured by two values: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure, exemplified as 120/80.

With physical exercise, muscles increase their demand for oxygen and nutrients, triggering cardiovascular adaptations. It is useful to consider two main types: dynamic or aerobic exercise and static or strength exercise.

Tension Adaptations to Dynamic/Aerobic Exercise: The increases in blood pressure are due to the greater demand on the heart and blood flow to the extremities. Although the heart's contractile activity increases during dynamic exercise, blood pressure usually rises only slightly due to the decrease in other overall resistances.

Tension Adaptations to Static/Strength Exercise: During strength training, muscle contractions, especially during concentric and isometric phases, compress peripheral arteries, leading to an increase in diastolic blood pressure. Additionally, catecholamines, increased cardiac output, and intra-abdominal pressure contribute to an increase in systolic blood pressure. Although strength training also has a long-term blood pressure-lowering effect, this effect is less pronounced than that of aerobic exercise.

Factors that Influence Stress Values:

• Type of exercise
• Power of the work developed
• Training level
• Individual characteristics (genetics, previous illnesses, etc.)
• Atmosphere

Precautions: In cases of intense exercise followed by abrupt cessation, post-exercise hypotension can occur, with symptoms such as malaise, dizziness, or fainting. For individuals with unstable blood pressure or heart conditions, it is crucial to perform exercise in three phases: warm-up, main exercise, and cool-down.

Specific Recommendations:

• In hypertensive subjects, it is beneficial to schedule exercises that involve large muscle groups in the legs.
• Cardiovascular fatigue, caused by excessive intensity or duration of exertion, can affect blood pressure values.
• Blood pressure values during exercise vary with the level of training, being more tolerable in trained aerobic athletes.

In conclusion, understanding the body's response to exercise is fundamental for designing safe and effective programs. Attention to individual factors and the application of precautions are key to maximizing the benefits of exercise while minimizing risks.

Diastolic pressure is the blood pressure measured when the heart is at rest, that is, when the heart relaxes between beats. Diastolic pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is represented as the lower number in a blood pressure reading. Diastolic pressure should normally be below 80 mmHg to be considered healthy.
Here in this phase, blood is injected into the heart.
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Systolic pressure is the blood pressure measured when the heart contracts and pumps blood to the body. Systolic pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is represented as the top number in a blood pressure reading. Systolic pressure should normally be below 120 mmHg to be considered healthy.
Here in this phase blood is expelled