Blood Pressure

Can lifting increase blood pressure? Yes, but not a day later. Typically if an individual has heavy loads or incorrect breathing patterns, blood pressure will be raised during workout and shortly after in some cases.

Also, certain exercises can raise blood pressure as well. For example, the leg press will increase blood pressure about 3 times greater than the squat. This is due to body position.

I would be interested to hear why the doctor thinks protein can cause an increase in blood pressure. If the protein contains caffeine, then yes, absolutely (some do). But drinking a plain protein shake is no different than eating a steak in this case.

What kind of protein is he drinking and if you don't mind, fill us in on why they feel this is the case.

Obviously, the doctor and cardiologist advise should always be followed, just interested in what they had to say.

if it raises it, than why am i lifting right now for this years season, should i stop, or is it non stop lifting

He has beening drinking GNC Isolate 28 and has been lifting 4-6 times a week. The cardioligist didn't seem real concerned. She didn't want him to lift until the pressure stabilized. She also thought that lifting may be related to the rise. I don't know why. I was a little stunned by the readings; I had them take mine since I know what they are. Mine were also much higher than what they usually are. Strange. High pressure does not run in our family. Also a little frustrating because my son has really started to lift this year and not just play with the weights. He's actually gone up 150 lbs in the squat over the last two months. Hopefully this doesn't last long.

How high of levels are you talking about? Is this just a moderate increase, or substantial? What kind of readings is he getting?

I'm interested to know, as many of the young men who play summer ball with us are on regular lifting programs.

I am just curious at to how much water is he ingesting?Protein if not properly metabolized could put pressure on the kidneys and kidneys are involved with regulation of blood pressure.
Again as advice given listen to your doctor, but there are millions of athletes working out and taking protein. Please make sure hes drinking enoug water to flush his kidnyes really well.
Any rise in blood pressure should return to normal within an hour or so after strenuous exercise. This is very interesting, keep us posted.

fanofgame brings up a very good point.
If taking protein supplements you MUST drink tons of water. I mean lots.
I don't think that the lifting has anything to do with it, but possibly the protein.
My son gets an elevated BP reading during training time if doesn't drink enough water.
Good idea to ask the doc for a blood test to test kidney function.

These readings were not taken during lifting but the day after. He was 142/80 twice and then 5 min later normal twice. After they took an EKG (normal), he was 127/79. At the cardiologist he was 141/72. I don't remember him drinking alot of water during and afer lifting; maybe that could be a problem. The concern is that he may really be elevating his pressure during lifting. The boy is very slim at about 5'11" and 130 Lbs; he just doesn't look like he should have high blood pressure. Although, he does became nervous very easily.

It is my understanding that lifting weights will lower ones blood pressure even more than running. I do know of one former NCAA champion wrestler (6'1" & 270/lb) that developed high blood pressure due to drinking four protein shakes each day.

quote:

Originally posted by Jon Doyle:


Obviously, the doctor and cardiologist advise should always be followed, just interested in what they had to say.

That is not always the best philosophy nowadays. This is assuming that the doctor is always right and you must follow doctors orders. That went out the window about 20 years ago. If I had a dollar for every doctor I talked to that had no idea what the heck they were saying I would be rich!

I would listen to the cardiologist over the PCP though.

I've had a similar experience with my 15U. He's 6'2" pushing 195.

He went to a regular checkup and was 120/70 (or something like that) but they thought they heard a heart murmur and wanted that checked. We went to a pediatric cardiologist, who immediately cleared the murmur, but his BP was insanely all over the place 165/50, then 145/60, they took it with a machine about 10 times and it seemed like a random set of numbers. They did an ultrasound of his heart (normal) they did some other tests all normal. They somewhat concluded that they didn't have a cuff big enough and said go to Walgreens the next day and try that.

We did and it was 140/80 or about there. We went back to the pediatrician who got a 135/75 then 120/70 again (the old fashioned way) after a few minutes of calm. They wanted to rule out a kidney problem and did a urine sample, which came back normal. They know it isn't a heart problem and the ultra sound showed a normal heart wall thickness, which implies he isn't hyper tensive.

They got the XL adult cuff out and it seems to be 120-130/70-80. They want to monitor it and have him come in every couple of months to get another reading and just make sure it doesn't get any worse.

I hadn't heard about the lifting being a factor.

So what started as a benign heart murmur has cost me about $1000 in co-pays and they've basically concluded he's OK...

JMoff- that is the best $1000 you'll ever spend! An undiagnosed heart murmer can lead to death. Just recently in our area an 18 yr old FB player dropped dead at school (not during FB). Undiagnosed heart murmer, a very serious one.

Be thankful he's gotten a clean bill of health. If you haven't already, buy a blood pressure cuff (XL), and take his BP daily for several weeks to moniter it. Good luck.

CaBB - I have to admit when the ultrasound technician was walking us around his heart, showing us all his valves and describing the conditions where the kids who drop dead and how he didn't have each condition, I was VERY relieved.

They even can color code the inflow and outflow of blood as it passes into one chamber and out the other and show that there was no back flow.

In the deep, dark part of my mind where I worry about my kids and all the terrible things that can happen as they grow up, I was at least able to check one thing off the list for one of them...

As posted in another thread, all athletes should have this test, along with an EKG.

The bottom line here is simple---do whatever you are doing under doctors direction---I do not believe there are any certified doctors here on the is site---I know I would not give you any advice here

The internet is the endall be all some of you think it is