# Would light weight training make my blood pressure spike? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 27, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-light-weight-training-make-my-blood-pressure-spike/607487 "2011-12-27T03:01:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-light-weight-training-make-my-blood-pressure-spike/607487/1 "2011-12-27T03:01:40Z")
Before you say “get thee to a doctor,” I’ve already _been_ to two doctors, but I don’t quite believe what they’re saying. I’ve got hypertension and seem to have gotten it under control with meds. Need to lose weight. I used to like to work out with a rowing machine, some weights and (importantly for some other health issues) a back exercise machine. Doctors here, while thoroughly competent, are a product of their culture and aren’t really familiar with this kind of workout – they’re more inclined to prescribe me to do tai-chi in the park or something, which is fine for some (old grandmas) but not my cup of tea. And doesn’t address some of the other health issues I need to work on. I’ve asked two doctors whether it would be safe for me to do this kind of workout, and have to describe it to them a bit. And after some deep thought, they solemnly shake their heads: “No, no, no. You will _hold your breath_ when doing that kind of exercise, and that will cause your blood pressure to go up drastically.” But I don’t remember ever holding my breath while doing the rowing machine, though admittedly I could see major problems if I tried to do so, hypertension or not. And for the back machine I’m not trying to make my trapezius muscle look like a bag of walnuts for the Mr. Universe contest, just trying to get more needed support for my spine. So what’s the dope? Should I go ahead and try it? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-light-weight-training-make-my-blood-pressure-spike/607487/2 "2011-12-27T03:12:22Z")
Actually, you’ll get more spine support by working the [core muscles.](http://www.exrx.net/Lists/ExList/WaistWt.html) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-light-weight-training-make-my-blood-pressure-spike/607487/3 "2011-12-27T03:13:45Z")
I have high blood pressure and when I told my doctor I was lifting she said “awesome!” I don’t see how holding one’s breath for short periods would affect one’s blood pressure in the long term anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Love](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Dr.Love](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Love)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-light-weight-training-make-my-blood-pressure-spike/607487/4 "2011-12-27T03:55:16Z")
In [Starting Strength](http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Strength-3rd-Mark-Rippetoe/dp/0982522738/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1324956911&sr=8-2), Mark Rippetoe argues that the [Valsalva maneuver](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valsalva_maneuver) (holding your breath and increasing abdominal cavity pressure by contracting your core muscles) is an important part of weight room safety. The worry is that the short term increase in blood pressure caused by Valsalva will rupture a blood vessel and blow an aneurysm or cause a stroke. Rippetoe points out that (1) such things are so rare that there are no statistics available on their frequency, and (2) the Valsavla maneuver increases the pressure throughout the body, including in the CSF. Consequently, there is no pressure difference across the walls of a blood vessels, and no increased chance for a bleed. Of course, this only matters if you’re using the Valsalva maneuver and lifting heavy. Otherwise, it shouldn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-light-weight-training-make-my-blood-pressure-spike/607487/5 "2011-12-27T04:26:15Z")
I agree with the others. If you want to strengthen your spine (a wise and worthy goal) then consider planks. Dr. Stu McGill is one of the world’s top experts on spine biomechanics and highly recommends [side planks](http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com/plank.html). They’re quite difficult the first time you do them but they get easy fast. Dr. McGill also recommends no strength training on machines. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-light-weight-training-make-my-blood-pressure-spike/607487/6 "2011-12-27T06:07:04Z")
Why would you hold your breath when doing any exercise? Isn’t that the first thing they tell you not to do? It was in my fitness classes at college. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-light-weight-training-make-my-blood-pressure-spike/607487/7 "2011-12-27T06:26:01Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Why would you hold your breath when doing any exercise? It makes you stronger for brief periods. Baroreceptors in the abdomen detect the build-up in pressure and allow you to lift more for a brief period. Almost a necessity if you want to compete in powerlifting or arm wrestling. Not that **Koxinga** would necessarily be doing that in his workout of course but that’s why some people do it. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-light-weight-training-make-my-blood-pressure-spike/607487/8 "2011-12-27T12:37:49Z")
Of course none of us know the specifics of your health and nothing stated here should in anyway be construed as medical advice … but [this 2007 AHA guideline](http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/early/2007/07/16/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.185214) is the standard current position (pdf): > [@](#): > > Although excessive BP elevations have been documented with high intensity RT, for example, 80% to 100% of 1-RM performed to exhaustion, such elevations are generally not a concern with low- to moderate-intensity RT performed with correct breathing technique and avoidance of the Valsalva manuever. 104 Interestingly, there is indirect evidence that RT results in a more favorable balance in myocardial oxygen supply and demand than aerobic exercise because of the lower HR and higher myocardial (diastolic) perfusion pressure. 34 … > > … The use of resistance testing and training in moderate- to high-risk cardiac patients requires good clinical judgment and close monitoring. Studies in healthy adults and low-risk cardiac patients, that is, persons without resting or exercise induced evidence of myocardial ischemia, severe LV dysfunction, or complex ventricular dysrhythmias, have reported no major adverse cardiovascular events. RT also appears to be safe among patients with controlled hypertension, 105,106 and intra-arterial BPs during weight lifting in cardiac patients are reported to be within a clinically acceptable range at 40% and 60% of 1-RM. 107 No significant cardiovascular events were reported with 1-RM strength testing (bench press, leg press, and knee extension) in 6653 healthy subjects 20 to 69 years of age who had undergone a preliminary medical examination and maximal treadmill testing, and all of whom had resting BP 160/90 mm Hg. 108 … In that guideline uncontrolled hypertension above 160 systolic and 100 diastolic is a relative contraindication and above 180/110 an absolute contraindication for weight training, as are several other health conditions (see table 2 on page 6). Take it for what it’s worth, but in this context maybe you should avoid the grain of salt! 🙂