Question from M. Otto: At the age of 47, I have been diagnosed with slightly elevated blood pressure, which is to be treated with a medication (active ingredient Ramipril). Can I still train optimally according to my heart rate under these circumstances?
Answer from Dr Eifler: High blood pressure (arterial hypertension) is present when the blood pressure at rest is above 130 to 85 mmHg. The danger: High blood pressure is not felt for many years, but is considered the most important risk factor for a stroke. Around a quarter to a third of people under the age of 50 and more than 60 per cent of older people are affected. A 24-hour measurement is the best way to determine whether high blood pressure is really present, but ergometry also provides clear indications - even under high stress, the arterial pressure should not exceed 230 to 100 mmHg.
For most people, high blood pressure is either inherited or influenced by lifestyle. Obesity, elevated blood lipid levels, high salt intake, smoking and too much alcohol have a negative effect (women should not consume more than 20 grams/day, men no more than 30 grams. For comparison: a bottle of beer contains around 13 grams, a glass of wine around 9 grams of alcohol). Regular endurance sport, on the other hand, lowers blood pressure. If it is only slightly elevated (up to 160 to 95 mmHg), regular training in the basic range can often lower it sufficiently. You should also eat as little table salt as possible and possibly switch to substitute salts containing potassium instead of sodium.
The doctor should adjust your values with medication so that your blood pressure does not rise too much during exercise: For example, at an output of 100 watts on the ergometer, not above 190 to 95 mmHg. There are different groups of medication. The medication you are using belongs to the so-called ACE inhibitors; unlike beta blockers, these do not restrict maximum performance and maximum heart rate. This makes them well suited to sports activities. Unlike when taking beta blockers, you do not have to redefine your training heart rate zones. However, beta blockers are indispensable if the coronary arteries are also constricted.
