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Question:

Is it normal for blood pressure to rise during strenuous exercise?

Is it normal for your blood pressure to get high during strenuous exercise?  Like after running 3 miles & BP is 180/85? 

submitted by Patty from Houston, Texas, on 11/2/09

Answer:

by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Ali Massumi, MD

Yes, we expect the systolic pressure to go up and the diastolic pressure to go down.  The systolic pressure going up to near 200 is acceptable. 

See also on this site: 

• Exercise (Heart Smart topic)
• Heart Information Center

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Updated November 2009