Blood pressure decreasing with exercise? - Heart Disorders Message Board

Janemarie · 01-20-2005, 07:05 AM

Hi, im too worried to go to the Doctor at the moment, and was just wondering if anyone had heard of this 'condition' before. My biology tutor pulled me to one side at the end of a lecture and has really worried me.

We did experiments with ECG's and heart rate/blood pressure in relation to different activities.

It seems my blood pressure is perfect at rest (116/75), but as i begin to exercise my blood pressure goes down quite dramatically (71/45). My pulse however shot up to 150 bpm.

It wasn't a dodgy reading, as i did exercise on the exercise machine, and took readings several times, even trying a different monitor.

Im quite a fit person, i go to the gym twice a week and live a healthy life style. However i am not some super fit athlete!

What im saying doesn't make any logical sense to myself (im not stupid!) or anyone else ive told. Like i said even my University tutor, who has worked in the medical/biological field for over 15 years, advised me to see my Doctor, and geniunely seemed concerned.

Any help would be greatfully recieved.

Thanks,

Jane

mikey51 · 01-20-2005, 09:05 AM

Dramatic changes take place in your cardiovascular system when you exercise. Blood flow to working muscles increases tremendously, which causes an immediate drop in blood pressure. The body responds quickly, increasing heart rate and cardiac output to maintain blood pressure at the level required.

Maybe I am missing something but you sound normal to me.

Kitten1980 · 01-20-2005, 12:00 PM

It sounds normal to me as well... perhaps a little more dramatic than usual, and perhaps worthy of mentioning to a doctor to see if he/she thinks it needs further evaluation.

jerry78 · 01-21-2005, 05:30 AM

Actually, Blood Pressure should increase with exercise. That is, the systolic (top) should increase, while the diastolic (bottom) should remain the same or increase just very slightly.

This is one of the markers used during stress testing.....if a drop in BP occurs during heart stress, especially in diastolic, further investigation is required.

I would check it out if I were you. It maybe nothing, as a university biology teacher is certainly not qualified to administer such tests in the first place, but as a precaution, go to a cardiologist with your concerns.

Teri16 · 01-23-2005, 01:31 PM

Hi Jane, I'm new here, too, but I believe that you should seek medical attention re you BP changes-it is not normal. Better to be safe than sorry.