There are always blood pressure and heart questions on any questionnaire related to your health with regard to fitness. These are key questions because your heart and blood pressure are going to be affected by any exercise that you do. So let’s talk a little bit about what they are and what they are measuring so you can understand how they affect you when it comes to doing your workout.
Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure is the measurement of how open your blood vessels are. When your blood pressure is low it means your heart doesn’t have to work very hard to pump your blood through blood vessels. An ideal blood pressure is 115/75. Blood pressure that is 140/90 is considered hypertensive. Blood pressure can be affected by a myriad of factors including caffeine, stress, illness and even running up stairs because you are running late. If you get repeated high readings, you’ll definitely want to consult a physician.
Heart Rate
We talk about heart rate a lot in fitness and exercise circle. Your resting heart rate is how fast your heart beats when you are sitting still. In an ideal world, you resting heart rate will be between 60 and 90 beats per minute. It can be slower if you are extremely fit or genetically predisposed to have a low resting heart rate. It can also be faster if you are nervous, angry, upset or in some way stressed. You can also have an elevated heart rate if you consume a lot of caffeine and other medications.
One good way to determine your resting heart rate is to take your heart rate each morning, just after you wake up, while you are still lying in bed. The average of those readings should give you a good idea of your resting heart rate. Regular exercise after two to three months can reduce your resting heart rate. This is usually an indicator that your heart has become stronger and more efficient.
Understanding your heart rate and blood pressure can give you a good health barometer for the amount of exercise and the type you should be doing. While this information in this blog is useful, be sure to consult with your physician for more information on your heart and blood pressure health and to ask any questions you may have.