Thursday, October 08, 2009

Blood Pressure Revisited

While I undoubtedly make it a point to provide my clients with a sound exercise program, I find myself taking "the whole person" into account more than other personal trainers. One specific statistic I like to track- or at least be aware of- is my clients' blood pressure (BP). We all know there are certain numbers that are "healthiest." Simply put, your top # ("systolic") should read BELOW 120 mm Hg, while your bottom number ("diastolic") should read BELOW 80 mm Hg.

One question I got recently was "WHEN should I check my blood pressure (BP)?" From my limited research, I like people to check it various times throughout the day. Determine when it's at its highest and use that time each day to monitor it. Of course, this whole process should be conducted in conjunction with your physician's feedback. Allow plenty of time to pass if you plan on taking it after exercise or ingesting caffeine, which can both elevate your BP reading.

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