The podcast discusses blood pressure, including its relationship to exercise and medications. They explore the complexities of blood pressure, gravitational effects on measurements, and the historical understanding of high blood pressure. The hosts also provide a personal update on a powerlifting meet and announce the availability of their app on the Apple app store.
Read more
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Regular blood pressure screening is essential for adults 18 years and older to detect and manage high blood pressure.
Understanding the different categories of blood pressure (normal, elevated, stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension) helps determine the level of associated risk.
Excess body fat, physical inactivity, and poor diet contribute to high blood pressure, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, and following a balanced diet.
Blood pressure is influenced by various factors including physical activity, diet, sleep quality, body fat, genetics, and certain medical conditions or medications, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to managing and preventing high blood pressure.
Deep dives
The importance of monitoring blood pressure
It is important for everyone, 18 years and older, to have their blood pressure checked regularly. Screening for high blood pressure is recommended, and if it is found to be elevated, further measurements should be taken outside of the clinical setting to confirm the diagnosis. Home blood pressure monitoring can be done using validated devices. Blood pressure should be measured correctly, with the cuff appropriately sized and at heart level.
Understanding blood pressure categories
Blood pressure is categorized into different ranges: normal (below 120/80 mmHg), elevated (120-129/80 mmHg), stage 1 hypertension (130-139/80-89 mmHg), and stage 2 hypertension (140/90 mmHg or higher). These categories help determine the level of risk associated with blood pressure readings. Maintaining blood pressure in the normal range is associated with lower risks of complications.
Primary and secondary causes of high blood pressure
High blood pressure can be divided into primary and secondary causes. Primary hypertension refers to high blood pressure without a specific identifiable medical reason, while secondary hypertension has a clear underlying cause. Common drivers of high blood pressure include excess body fat, physical inactivity, poor diet, and other lifestyle factors. Understanding the underlying causes helps guide treatment strategies.
Body fat, physical activity, and diet affecting blood pressure
Excess body fat, especially visceral fat, contributes to high blood pressure. The release of hormones and inflammatory molecules from fat cells can lead to increased pressure in blood vessels. Physical inactivity and poor diet also play a role in elevating blood pressure. Maintaining a healthy body weight, being physically active, and following a balanced diet are important for overall blood pressure management.
Factors influencing blood pressure
Blood pressure is influenced by various factors, including physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, dietary quality, sleep quality, body fat, and genetics. Sedentary lifestyle and poor dietary choices can have negative effects on multiple organ systems, including the nervous system, cardiovascular system, hormones, and kidneys. Additionally, lack of sleep and certain medical conditions or medications can contribute to high blood pressure. Age and genetic predisposition also play a role in blood pressure levels. Overall, a comprehensive approach that addresses these factors is important in managing and preventing high blood pressure.
Understanding Exercise-related Blood Pressure
During exercise, blood pressure naturally increases due to increased metabolic demands and the need for greater blood flow to working muscles. This increase is a normal response and is necessary for the body to meet the demands of the activity. The magnitude of the increase in blood pressure is proportional to the intensity and type of exercise. While blood pressure can reach high levels during exercise, it is different from elevated resting blood pressure and does not have the same negative health implications. An abnormal response to exercise can include blood pressure not increasing enough or dropping despite increased workload, or an excessive increase in blood pressure too quickly for the level of activity. These abnormal responses may indicate underlying issues in the cardiovascular system.
The Relationship between Exercise and Cardiovascular Health
Long-term exercise has been shown to have numerous positive effects on cardiovascular health, despite some adaptations that may appear unfavorable on surrogate measures. While certain adaptations, such as increased heart muscle size or stiffness, may be present in individuals who engage in heavy resistance training or high volumes of aerobic training, clinical outcomes and overall cardiovascular health outcomes still show significant benefits in physically active individuals. The clinical benefits include reduced risk of heart disease, improved blood pressure, resting heart rate, and stress test performance. It's important to consider the holistic impact of exercise on cardiovascular health rather than focusing solely on surrogate measures or individual adaptations.
Drs. Baraki and Feigenbaum discuss blood pressure and exercise.
Survey Link: https://forms.gle/FMfM1m4fFziSbe1o6
App Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/barbell-medicine/id1536216161
Resources From This episode:
Lifestyle Gym Paper
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/15598276221089898?journalCode=ajla&#.YoI35luCifI.twitter
USPSTF Screening Guidelines
https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/hypertension-in-adults-screening
Blood Pressure Cuffs
ValidateBP.org
History of Hypertension Treatment
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4763852/
Exercise vs. Medication for Treating Hypertension
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30563873/
Meta-analysis on Resistance Training for Hypertension
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28769100/
Hypertensive Response to Exercise
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4962449/
Measuring BP During Exercise
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25273859/
https://www.barbellmedicine.com/blog/a-basic-guide-to-blood-pressure-part-i/
https://www.barbellmedicine.com/blog/a-basic-guide-to-blood-pressure-part-ii/
https://www.barbellmedicine.com/blog/the-effect-of-resistance-training-on-high-blood-pressure/
https://hypertension.cochrane.org
For more of our stuff:
Podcasts: goo.gl/X4H4z8
Website:
www.barbellmedicine.com
Instagram:
@austin_barbellmedicine
@jordan_barbellmedicine
@leah_barbellmedicine
@vanessa_barbellmedicine
@untamedstrength
@derek_barbellmedicine
@hassan_barbellmedicine
@charlie_barbellmedicine
@alex_barbellmedicine
@tomcampitelli
@joe_barbellmedicine
@rheece_barbellmedicine
@cam_barbellmedicine
@claire_barbellmedicine
@ben_barbellmedicine
@cassi.niemann
@caleb_barbellmedicine
Email: info@barbellmedicine.com
Supplements/Templates/Seminars:
www.barbellmedicine.com/shop/
Forum: forum.barbellmedicine.com/
Our Sponsors: * Check out Acorns: https://acorns.com/BBM * Check out Factor: https://factormeals.com/bbm50 * Check out Incogni: http://incogni.com/barbell * Check out Mint Mobile: https://mintmobile.com/BBM * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: www.rosettastone.com
