Personal training blog

Hypertension: high blood pressure

Hypertension is the clinical term used to describe a high blood pressure (BP) of 140/90 or higher. It is such a health risk that the world health organisation (WHO) claims that it is “one of the biggest challenges facing public health authorities and medical practitioners”. Worldwide, high blood pressure affects 1 billion people (NIH 2003) and is estimated to cause 7.1 million deaths: 13% of all deaths globally. For those suffering with hypertension there is increased risk of coronary artery disease, strokes, renal disease and all cause mortality (so that means everything else!!).

Hypertension as almost always asymptomatic or without symptoms (WHO 2002), thus it is described as the “silent killer” and is normally only detected with the use of a sphygmomanometer (the thing that the doctor puts on your arm and inflates). Only people with severe hypertension or an abrupt rise in blood pressure will experience the symptoms of headaches, blurred or impaired vision, fits or blackouts. Elevated levels of BP can produce a variety of structural changes to the arteries that supply the brain, heart, kidneys and elsewhere. Yet 7 out of 10 people globally are not being properly treated for hypertension.

Fortunately, in most cases exercise and correct nutrition will cause a reasonably quick lowering of high BP. At Diets Don’t Work all our personal trainers are qualified to train special populations including those with high blood pressure. In most cases some structured exercise at the correct level with your personal trainer wil lead to a big improvement in your blood pressure.