General Health The Muscle That Matters Blood pressure can be confusing. The top or first number measures systolic pressure, or the amount of pressure exerted in your arteries as the heart contracts - or beats- and blood is pushed from the heart into all the blood vessels. An ideal systolic pressure is 115. The second, lower number, the diastolic pressure, is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest - between beats- and is filling with blood for the next push. An ideal diastolic pressure is 76.
While aerobics used to be the only exercise doctors recommended to hypertensives, things have changed. The American Heart Association now says that 2 or 3 weight training sessions per week with curls and presses are enough to lower blood pressure.
This “change of heart” came about recently. Several large studies showed that weight lifting reduced blood pressure, without a doubt. One study showed that a group doing weight training several times a week lowered systolic blood pressure – the top number – by 2 per cent, and lowered diastolic blood pressure by 4 per cent.
The logic is clear. With stronger muscles, there is less demand on the heart to push hard during everyday activities. Resting blood pressure stays lower.
By sipping an All the Whey protein shake within 2 hours of a weight lifting session, you’ll give your muscles, including your heart, a boost, and your blood pressure a rest. Better health in a heartbeat!
While aerobics used to be the only exercise doctors recommended to hypertensives, things have changed. The American Heart Association now says that 2 or 3 weight training sessions per week with curls and presses are enough to lower blood pressure.
This “change of heart” came about recently. Several large studies showed that weight lifting reduced blood pressure, without a doubt. One study showed that a group doing weight training several times a week lowered systolic blood pressure – the top number – by 2 per cent, and lowered diastolic blood pressure by 4 per cent.
The logic is clear. With stronger muscles, there is less demand on the heart to push hard during everyday activities. Resting blood pressure stays lower.
By sipping an All the Whey protein shake within 2 hours of a weight lifting session, you’ll give your muscles, including your heart, a boost, and your blood pressure a rest. Better health in a heartbeat!
