the Highs, Lows of blood pressure

[sinkweight]

Can any of you resident Deeperblue smarties give me a run down about the advantages/disadvantages or low/high blood pressure during freediving?

I was just at my doctor's, and he said my blood pressure was a bit low.

Didn't know what to expect.

Or what I could do holistically to remedy such an abnormality

(not a word, drunky or deep)

 

[naiad]

I don't think slightly low blood pressure is considered a problem, but I don't know what the effects are on freediving. I have low blood pressure, and my diving is not too bad. However, it might explain why I feel the cold a lot and I get tired very easily - even a normal day at work can be a struggle. It probably depends on the individual - if it isn't causing any problems, it might be a good thing.

I hope someone can explain more

Lucia

 

[sinkweight]

I used to have normal/high blood pressure. I can't figure what changed it.

 

[efattah]

Low BP:
- Reduces oxygen consumption (extending apnea)
- Increases risk of BO from packing or deep inhales
- Increases susceptibility to dizziness from hyperventilating
- Increases risk of BO at end of apnea

High BP:
- Increases rate of O2 consumption (decreasing apnea length)
- Decreases risk of BO from packing
- Decreases susceptibility to dizziness from hyperventilating
- Decreases risk of BO at end of apnea

However, BP can be manipulated with garlic, onions, cruciferous veggies, licorice, salt, potassium, magnesium, calcium, carbs and water.

 

[naiad]

If the measurement was correct (maybe it's worth getting it measured again, as the equipment may have been inaccurate), then it could be caused by a change of diet, more exercise, supplements or medications.

Edit - efattah got there first! Thanks Eric for the info on diet. I have a long apnea time, but I am prone to blackout/samba, so the theory on high and low blood pressure makes sense.

 

[sinkweight]

I suppose I'll have to go back to my "Pound of bacon per day" diet, then.

Heh-heh-heh.

Thanks, E.

Naiad, I think I might actually get a second opinion, as you had suggested.

 

[Merlin]

Hey Sink,

I have had to deal with relatively high BP for my age. I found that nearly everytime I got it measured at the Doctor, it would be abnormally rocket high (probably due to anxiety -I hate going to the doctor). I would recomend you buy a machine that measures it (mine was around $30) and do it various times during the day and every day a week. That way you'll find a better average of your BP and maybe what is causing it. BTW how low was it? and was it a single measurement?

The cool thing is that I can pack to my max without any feeling of light headedness

 

[sinkweight]

It was one measurment. I'm not the kind to tell him to do it again. And I was rather relaxed....it's good to skip work sometimes, hee hee.

anyhooos.

I didn't know those thingamabobs were so cheap. I'm gonna buy one this weekend, do some experiments.

I wonder what 10 bags of cheetos in 30 minutes does to my heart rate.

 

[pat fish]

hey - consider a low blood pressure as sort of a life insurance. more people die from the long term effects of high bp (blood vessels/plaque/strokes) than any other reason.
But I find your question very interesting and I wonder if higher blood pressure in general leads to shorter anpea times. Higher arterial pressure allows a perfusion of cerebral tissues (pO2) at a much lower saturation (SaO2). But of course under hypertension in apnea the oxygen consumption should be increased. It could be that Hypertension found in a COMPLEX of physiological symptoms, whatever you call it - metabolic syndrom - rather leads to shorter apnea times.

hypotension at the beginning of an apnea and hypertension at the end would probably be the thing to go for. part of that happens marvellously by physiological processes under apnea.

 

[Deleted User]

Hi!
I'm thinking about how I should deal with my low bloodpressure while freediving. I easily get hypotension in normal life when going from sitting or squatting to standing. And I think that effects my diving as well: I feel there is a big difference when I turn my head up at the turningdepth and proceed up to the surface. I am quite tall with a long neck so i guess the heart must struggle to pump the blood up to the brain...
descending feels normaly great but ascending much heavier and not only due to increased time and less oxygine-pressure..at least that is what I figure and worry
about, that I would get a BO from hypotension at the ascent allthough the descent is fine.
Maybe a greater/stronger heart from running and the like would help besides the diet?

 

[Simos]

Hi!
I'm thinking about how I should deal with my low bloodpressure while freediving. I easily get hypotension in normal life when going from sitting or squatting to standing. And I think that effects my diving as well: I feel there is a big difference when I turn my head up at the turningdepth and proceed up to the surface. I am quite tall with a long neck so i guess the heart must struggle to pump the blood up to the brain...
descending feels normaly great but ascending much heavier and not only due to increased time and less oxygine-pressure..at least that is what I figure and worry
about, that I would get a BO from hypotension at the ascent allthough the descent is fine.
Maybe a greater/stronger heart from running and the like would help besides the diet?

Hook breaths really help... Also for pool training, makes sure you don't stand as soon as you come up, keep low.