How long is blood pressure elevated after exercise

Research shows that exercising helps lower blood pressure (1), (2). But if you measure your blood pressure before, during, and after exercising, you will notice that blood pressure does not remain stagnant.

So, what really happens to blood pressure? Does it increase or decrease? If you have high or low blood pressure, should you be exercising?

Blood pressure after walking around

Are there any alternate, safer exercises? Scroll down to learn about what experts recommend.

What Is Normal Blood Pressure?

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), normal or healthy blood pressure is less than 120 (systolic) Hg mm and less than 80 (diastolic) Hg mm (also written as 120/80 Hg mm).

A systolic blood pressure of 120-129 Hg mm is considered elevated blood pressure. Above 130/80 is considered hypertension (3).

To understand these numbers better, it is best to know what systolic and diastolic blood pressure are:

• Systolic BP: Indicates how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls when the heart beats.
• Diastolic BP: Indicates how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls
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