Exercise is helpful is many ways.  Lowering high blood pressure can be a benefit of regular exercise.  An inactive lifestyle is one of the top risk factors for heart disease.  Heart disease and high blood pressure commonly occur together.

Cardiovascular or aerobic exercise is steady physical activity using large muscle groups.

It strengthens the heart and lungs and improves the body’s ability to use oxygen.  Aerobic exercise has the most benefits for your heart. Over time, it can help decrease your heart rate and blood pressure and improve your breathing.

The first step in your exercise program is to discuss your plans with your doctor.   You should review your exercise routine with your doctor regularly.

Although exercise is beneficial, you need to be careful.  Here are some precautions that you should be aware of with your high blood pressure:

• Avoid heavy lifting, pushing heavy objects and chores such as raking, shoveling, mowing and scrubbing.

• Ask your doctor what aerobic and strengthening exercises are appropriate for you and which exercises you should avoid or consider hiring a personal trainer.

• Avoid exercising outdoors when it is too cold, hot or humid.  High humidity may cause you to become fatigued more quickly and extreme temperatures can interfere with your circulation and make breathing difficult.

• Do not go up steep hills during your activity. If you must walk on a hilly area, slow your walking pace and watch your heart rate closely.

• Reduce your activity level if your exercise program has been interrupted for a few days for whatever reason, such as illness, vacation or bad weather. Then, you can gradually increase to your regular activity level as tolerated.

• Do not exercise if you are not feeling well or have a fever.  You should wait a few days after all symptoms disappear before starting your exercise program, unless your doctor gives you other directions.

• If you are short of breath during any activity or have increased fatigue, slow down your activity level or rest.  If you continue to have shortness of breath, call your doctor. Your doctor may make changes in your medications, diet, or fluid restrictions.

• If you develop a rapid or irregular heartbeat or have heart palpitations, rest. Check your pulse after you rest for a few minutes — if your pulse is still irregular or above 100 beats per minute, call your doctor for further instructions.

Do not ignore pain. If you have chest pain or pain anywhere else in your body, do not continue the activity.