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My Blood Pressure is LOW after Jogging
Newbie here….hope I’m asking this in the right forum:
I’m a slim, healthy 72 year old white male with excellent cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose. My typical blood pressure is around 120/85 and pulse 62. My main form of exercise is jogging two mornings each week, about 4 miles in 45 minutes. When I check my BP an hour after jogging, it’s down to 90/60 (sometimes even lower) and my pulse is elevated to 78. The readings stay that way all morning and afternoon. By night they slowly return to normal. I don’t feel dizzy when my BP is down but I do feel just a bit more fatigued. The only medication I’m taking which lists low blood pressure as a possible side effect is Flomax. What I want to know is whether this temporary drop in blood pressure and increased heart rate is serious enough to see a cardiologist.
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9 Replies
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@jumprun3 first of all, welcome to the forums.
In my opinion the fact that you are concerned enough to monitor yourself, join a forum and ask questions, is an indicator to me that you should see a cardiologist. One of the things we all learn early on about self-advocacy, is to go with your instinct.
@jenc lived in Texas and so do a few other members. They can recommend cardiologists in the area if you don’t already have one in mind.
Did someone mention the possibility of PH to you? Here is a link that might help you.
https://pulmonaryhypertensionnews.com/pulmonary-hypertension-overview/And this might be helpful…
https://phassociation.org/patients/diagnosis/ -
Hey @jumprun3, welcome to the forums. As Colleen mentions, a good cardiologist who treats PH would be the best option based on your symptoms. What area in Texas are you located in? I recently relocated from TX to CA. But, my PH specialist is a cardiologist at Houston Methodist. I also know others who go to a PH center in Dallas.
Advocating and getting these symptoms validated and possible testing would be my next steps if It were me.
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Josh, your post caught my eye because I have a similar question. I’d welcome feedback from anyone who has the same kind of experience or who knows of someone in my situation. Here it is:
I’m 68, WF, and suffering from steadily worsening symptoms for about 10-11 years that all suggest I have some form of pulmonary hypertension (possibly CTEPH). I have become increasingly unable to exert myself without incurring nasty symptoms, whether that exertion is formal exercise or mowing my law and blowing leaves…or even loading the dishwasher! On some days, walking around Wal-Mart is very, very hard. When this started, I was exercising (walking) a mile every day, 4-5 days per week. I became gradually unable to do that without tremendous effort. I’ve tried to start an exercise program a couple of times since then, but become so winded (more and more quickly) that I can’t really do it.
A couple of years ago I realized that my BP drops like a rock when I exert myself. It drops 20-30 points systolic and 10-15 points diastolic. My HR goes up, my breathing comes in short pants, I get weak, shaky inside, cold from the inside out, and if I’ve pushed myself too hard, I get weepy. I can barely move.
The larger picture of my symptoms (not explained here) strongly suggests some kind of pulmonary hypertension. But if I do have PH, and I am prescribed medications that relax the walls of the pulmonary arteries…won’t that make me feel bad just like exerting myself does? How do I keep my general BP up so that I’m more functional, while lowering my pulmonary pressure? For that matter, how can I *have* a problem with low BP upon exertion at the same time as having a problem with elevated pulmonary pressure? Inquiring minds want to know!
And BTW, yes. I’ve had my heart checked. And re-checked when symptoms persisted. And then re-re-checked…….. Have had VQ scan that seems “normal.” Thyroid is now properly addressed and not a problem. Etc. If I may be allowed a bit of snark directed at the world of medicine in general: I’m very sorry that your medical tests don’t validate my symptoms…but that doesn’t change the fact that the symptoms exist and they’re getting worse.
I hope I’ve explained my situation clearly. If not, let me know and I’ll take another stab a it. And thanks, in advance, for any experiences anyone can share or any advice they can give.
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I don’t have any of the lung symptoms like Brenda is experiencing. I’ll probably ask for a referral to a cardiologist in El Paso. What I’ve got may not be a serious problem.
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Hi @jumprun3, I think that referral to the cardiologist would be your best solution at this time. Please let us know when this is scheduled and what they say. I hope that it’s nothing serious. But, I know how important it is to get some answers and validate those concerning symptoms. I have heard of people who do experience lower BP with exercise. How long does it take to get back close to your pre-workout BP?
I’m interested to hear if you have had an exercise stress test yet? Please be careful when you move around and listen to your body.
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I run at 7:30 AM, finish 45 minutes later. My BP usually takes a good 8 hours to return to normal.
I had a chemical-induced (not treadmill) stress test about 3 years ago. They said everything was fine.
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Like you, once my BP falls, it takes hours for it to normalize again.
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Wow, @jumprun3, 8 hours to return to your baseline after exercising is concerning. I know that some have reported within a few hours.
Have you scheduled that cardiologist consult yet?
@brendad53, does your BP take this long to return to your norm post-exercise., too? Or, does it return within a few hours for you? Although I hate that you both are experiencing this symptom, it’s a great conversation. Hopefully, you both have this notated to ask your specialists when you see them.
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@brendad53 had trouble posting, so I’m sharing her response below.
Jen, yes. Once my BP drops like that, it takes hours to return to normal. And at least 24 hours for all of the symptoms to abate so that I can try a little bit of activity again. This is why it takes me multiple days to mow my lawn, when it used to take me a couple of hours. Mow for 15-20 minutes; go inside and rest and replenish electrolytes. Two days later, go mow another patch of lawn for 15-20 minutes; go inside…. Same thing with leaf blowing in the fall, though I can go for a bit longer outside doing that, because it’s not as labor-intensive to just walk around with a leaf blower. I’ve actually made a document to take to the PH specialist. It has a brief run-down of my major symptoms. Then it has a chronology of symptom development so that he can see how the symptoms have changed (gotten worse) over time. I keep editing it over and over, to try to include only relevant info, streamline phrasing, etc.
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