I have recently had to go on blood pressure medicine. In just 3 days my bp has dropped from around 150/90 to the 120/60-70 range. I have also noticed my heart rate has jumped up about 10bpm, either at rest, or and any given perceived effort workout.
For those of you that have gone through this, how long until your body adapted to the new pressures, and things began to feel “normal” again?
My workouts don’t seem to be suffering, but I am bushed afterwards. And l am light-headed all the time, can barely tie my shoes without blacking out.
CB, I have gone through the same thing. If I remember correctly, it took about a week to adjust to the medication, where I did not feel light headed when going from sitting to standing. I am on Lisinopril-HCTZ (10/12.5 mg). I still find that I get dehydrated faster than before. I make sure to take my meds in the morning and drink all day long.
My doc just put me on one of these meds. Said it wouldn’t drop my BP so much I’d feel light headed.
Maybe you should talk with your doc if you’re feeling light headed at times? Might consider switching scrips.
My high BP and issue after I landed on my head during a ride and got knocked out. Still having headaches with 170/95 numbers post crash.
Haven’t returned to exercise yet so no help there with the numbers. Your comment about being light headed seemed interesting.
The light head feeling may be too much of a good thing (My doc’s term “over medicating”). Also note: HCTZ is on the “Banned” list of PED’s because it masks the presence of “real” PED’s. I’ve been hypertensive since high school (A real long time) and was on Lisinopril-HCTZ (20/12.5), but had to go back to just Lisinopril and drop the HCTZ. I’ve never been tested at a race, but having done several USAT Nationals and ITU Worlds, didn’t want to risk it…
Are there any mobile heart pressure monitors for running/biking?
No. Modern, consumer blood pressure monitors use technologies that are every sensitive to outside noises, jostling, etc.
Also, people should understand that BP is not a static measurement. It changes day to day and even hour to hour. Your BP while exercising will not be representative of what your “true” BP is.
There are ambulatory BP devices that some high-risk patients wear for 3-7 days, but these are specialized units and not available to the public. They are also not designed to be used during exercise.
About a week for me. Took myself off of it last spring, and wasn’t feeling well mid-October. 160/120 got me back on it. Hate that first week of being tired/worn out, but now I do not even notice. However, combine it with prednisone (rare autoimmune disease) and I weigh an additional 20lbs at the same BF% than if I’m not taking either.
20 years ago I was prescribed “Zestril” for hypertension. *It was a dark period. *I hated the lightheartedness. I started really exercising and changed my diet. I stopped taking the crap and my doctor cleared me. No more meds.
I was on Lisinopril-HCTZ and was getting very light headed going from sitting to standing. Went through four different doses/meds until I settled on 30 of Lininopril only and if has been working great. If you are getting light headed you need to go back to your doc.
I was on Lisinopril-HCTZ and was getting very light headed going from sitting to standing. Went through four different doses/meds until I settled on 30 of Lininopril only and if has been working great. If you are getting light headed you need to go back to your doc.
Yep, I was on the 10s to start which I think is a low dose but then had to go to the 5s which is probably the smallest. I was getting the lightheadedness every once in awhile with the 10s and tested on the lower end.
Other than that, I’ve always felt normal. No adjustment period. I tend to drink a decent amount of fluid so never seem to be dehydrated like some say.