Ask:

I have mildly elevated blood pressure and want to bring it under control through diet and exercise – so i’m looking for suitable hypertension exercise suggestions that I can try. Thanks.

Answer:

The key to any exercise program is staying motivated and setting realistic goals. First off if you haven’t been exercising you should have a check up with your doctor to ensure they give you the all clear to begin – they should be able to give you some suggestions on what sort of exercises are suitable for you. Brisk walking, swimming and some gentle aerobic exercises like yoga or tai chi could be good options.

If you join a gym or an exercise class make sure you tell them about your health status.

Secondly, it helps to rope in a friend or partner to join you in whatever exercises you chose to have a go at. Having someone else involved means your more likely to stick with it.

As you’re doing this for the health benefits don’t try to cram lots of exercise in or join loads of classes, make your regime realistic and achievable. You’re in this for the long term.

Which leads to finding exercises you enjoy. You don’t have to stick with just one either, the more varied your exercises are the more interested you’ll be in keeping going. Remember exercise can include attending a dance class or taking up a new hobby – it doesn’t have to be restricted to gym sessions Continue reading I am looking for a suggestions for a hypertension exercise program – any ideas? →