I am 55 and my doctor has recently presribed a short course of atenol to reduce my blood pressure. Now when I exercise it's difficult for me to get my heart rate above 130. Is this normal? Is it safe to exercise quite hard when taking beta blockers?
Atenolol slows heart rate and reduces heart contractility. The side effect is that it may reduce peripheral blood circulation to the limbs.
This will make a max HR occur at a lower intensity and dampen the heart rate response to exercise. You should not use heart rate as an exercise intensity marker as it will not be accurate
Generally you are put on a beta blocker for a particular reason which exercise can exaserbate if not controlled appropriately. You need to speak to a fitness professional who can design a training programme after a fitness test so that you are not working at such a great intensity and not using heart rate to measure intensity. A RPE scale is best used for exercise intensity marking and has been found to be pretty reliable. Look at http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/borgscale.htm It has a bit about the RPE scale and how to use it but best having a professional describe and supervise you with this.
Also do not do any above head exercises, static exercises or very high intensity maximal work such as maximal lifts until there is a noticable reduction in blood pressure. Have the exercise professional where you exercise to take BP before and after an exercise bought each week and record the results. Ideally, you are looking for a BP less than 140/90 to be no longer classed as hypertension.
I am 55 and my doctor has recently presribed a short course of atenol to reduce my blood pressure. Now when I exercise it's difficult for me to get my heart rate above 130. Is this normal? Is it safe to exercise quite hard when taking beta blockers?
No it it not safe to take beta blockers in your current medical condition.
I was diagnosed with AF when I was 54. With varying incidents over the last 2 and half years I am now using flecanide and atenenol daily.
Although I have continued to run regularly since, a chronic achilles tendon injury has finally eased but I have noticed difficulty with running as I have increased my mileage again.(the flecanide has been added since this injury due to incresed AF)
I can run reasonably well for 30 to 35 mins but on my max run of an hour fatigue increases and my breathing is difficult and legs are extremely heavy while slight hills slow me to a very pedestrian crawl. From distant race memories it feels worse than hitting an anaerobic threshold.
It seems logical that the drugs are inhibiting my heart and preventing increased HR to supply 02. I have been running the hour runs for 2 months now and there has been no change in condition. Can you confirm this and I will just continue on with this convincing excuse as I finish last and exhausted on our weekend group runs.
I am 55 and have just had my blood pressure medication altered to the beta blocker, Atenolol.
I have been running since my teens and now run 3 times a week, about 3 miles each time. I checked with my doctor that it would be OK for me to continue running and he said it was important to keep fit.
However, since starting Atenolol a few days ago, my first run resulted in me turning back home because of a very tight chest and heavy arms and legs. I immediately went back to the doctor who told me it was a symptom of beta blockers and that I should continue and 'run through it'.
I've just been for a run and felt as if I had a heavy weight on my back, tight chest and again heavy arms and legs. My BP was not raised a great deal on my return.
Beta blockers and exercise
Atenolol slows heart rate and reduces heart contractility. The side effect is that it may reduce peripheral blood circulation to the limbs.
This will make a max HR occur at a lower intensity and dampen the heart rate response to exercise. You should not use heart rate as an exercise intensity marker as it will not be accurate
Generally you are put on a beta blocker for a particular reason which exercise can exaserbate if not controlled appropriately. You need to speak to a fitness professional who can design a training programme after a fitness test so that you are not working at such a great intensity and not using heart rate to measure intensity. A RPE scale is best used for exercise intensity marking and has been found to be pretty reliable. Look at http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/borgscale.htm It has a bit about the RPE scale and how to use it but best having a professional describe and supervise you with this.
Also do not do any above head exercises, static exercises or very high intensity maximal work such as maximal lifts until there is a noticable reduction in blood pressure. Have the exercise professional where you exercise to take BP before and after an exercise bought each week and record the results. Ideally, you are looking for a BP less than 140/90 to be no longer classed as hypertension.
Re: Beta blockers and exercise
No it it not safe to take beta blockers in your current medical condition.
Beta blockers and exercise
I was diagnosed with AF when I was 54. With varying incidents over the last 2 and half years I am now using flecanide and atenenol daily.
Although I have continued to run regularly since, a chronic achilles tendon injury has finally eased but I have noticed difficulty with running as I have increased my mileage again.(the flecanide has been added since this injury due to incresed AF)
I can run reasonably well for 30 to 35 mins but on my max run of an hour fatigue increases and my breathing is difficult and legs are extremely heavy while slight hills slow me to a very pedestrian crawl. From distant race memories it feels worse than hitting an anaerobic threshold.
It seems logical that the drugs are inhibiting my heart and preventing increased HR to supply 02. I have been running the hour runs for 2 months now and there has been no change in condition. Can you confirm this and I will just continue on with this convincing excuse as I finish last and exhausted on our weekend group runs.
Beta Blockers and Running
I am 55 and have just had my blood pressure medication altered to the beta blocker, Atenolol.
I have been running since my teens and now run 3 times a week, about 3 miles each time. I checked with my doctor that it would be OK for me to continue running and he said it was important to keep fit.
However, since starting Atenolol a few days ago, my first run resulted in me turning back home because of a very tight chest and heavy arms and legs. I immediately went back to the doctor who told me it was a symptom of beta blockers and that I should continue and 'run through it'.
I've just been for a run and felt as if I had a heavy weight on my back, tight chest and again heavy arms and legs. My BP was not raised a great deal on my return.
Has anyone else experienced this?
Geoff