Lower Blood PressureHeart Disease – What is the connection between blood pressure and heart rate?
Here’s another question I asked Dr. Cynthia Shelby-Lane and her answer.
Lisa Nelson RD: Please explain the connection between high or low blood pressure and someone’s heart rate? For example, if someone lowers their blood pressure, should they see a corresponding decrease in heart rate? Also, should someone be concerned about a consistently high heart rate, such as 100 bpm?
Dr. Shelby-Lane: Blood pressure and heart rate are interrelated components of the cardiovascular system and therefore, not mutually exclusively. One can affect the other.
Persons with well controlled high blood pressure, with or without medication, can also have a cardiac arrhythmia or irregular heart beat. This heart rhythm problem, if poorly controlled can then affect the blood pressure.
Persons with low blood pressure, due to a variety of reasons, can have a normal or abnormal heart rhythm. Person with a disorder called neurocardiogenic syncope can have low blood pressure and a low or normal heart rate, but this is positional in nature and may involve a severe hormone problem related to the adrenal glands.
Lisa Nelson RD: Hmmm, not sure you answered the question. Yes, blood pressure and heart rate are connected. If someone lowers there blood pressure via medication or lifestyle changes, should they expect a lower heart rate also?
Dr. Shelby Lane: This is not a straight forward answer. You can have normal blood pressure and an altered heart rate or vice versa. Heart rate and rhythm may be caused by electrical disturbances which may or may not affect blood pressure. Again, there is no one answer and follow up with a specialist is needed since there are multiple causes for high and low blood pressure as well as heart rhythm disturbances. Hope this makes sense.
Lisa Nelson RD: Thanks for the clarification. There is not one set answer for this question.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
7 Natural Ways to Lower Blood Pressure
Lower Blood PressureWeight Lifting and Blood Pressure – How does weight lifting impact blood pressure?
Lifting weights can cause a temporary, but dramatic blood pressure rise. Systolic blood pressure can increase up to 350-400 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure to 150 mm Hg, even if your blood pressure is typically a healthy level of 120/80 or less.
Long-term high blood pressure is linked to arterial endothelial dysfunction. The endothelium is the inner lining of your artery walls. Endothelial dysfunction can result in the hardening of artery walls. Researchers have been monitoring the effects of short duration rises in blood pressure, such as what occurs during strength training, to determine the effect on endothelial function. It has been determined that acute rises in blood pressure impair endothelial function in untrained individuals, and regular resistance training helps protect against vascular dysfunction.
Continue readingLower Blood PressureLower Blood Pressure for Mothers
A recent study examined the long-term effects of pregnancy on blood pressure. Over 2300 women between the ages of 18-30 years-old were tested pre-pregnancy and then periodically between 2-20 years post-pregnancy.
Continue readingLower Blood PressureLower Blood Pressure – Chicken Soup for The Heart
I read some interesting research lately that I want to share related to chicken and blood pressure.
I’m not recommending you eat more chicken soup to lower your blood pressure.
We know that blood pressure is a significant risk factor for heart disease and stroke. It’s estimated that around 1 billion people worldwide live with high blood pressure. Being able to control high blood pressure through food selection is very important.
Continue readingLower Blood Pressure9 Steps to Lower High Blood Pressure – Is your hypertension uncontrolled?
Today is World Heart Day, so I want to give nine steps that will lead to high blood pressure control and ultimately heart health!
If you live with high blood pressure, you’re familiar with the side effects of anti-hypertensive medications. Fortunately, lifestyle plays a powerful role in blood pressure control too. These nine habits work alongside whatever your doctor has prescribed, not in place of it.
Here are 9 steps that will start you towards blood pressure control.
Continue readingLower Blood PressureDoes sleep apnea increase your heart attack risk?
This is another question I was asked recently. Here’s the answer:
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