Health: What is Blood Pressure?

 Health: What is Blood Pressure?

This is the first of five posts looking at blood pressure.  These will be posted daily, and will conclude with an article on why leading a paleolithic lifestyle can contribute to maintaining a healthy blood presure.

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in the arteries as it is pumped around the body by the heart.

Blood pressure primarily depends on a combination of two factors: 

• The force the heart uses to pump blood around the body;
• How relaxed or narrowed the arteries are. 

What do the numbers mean?

Blood pressure is always given as two numbers.  The first or top number is the systolic pressure: this is the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts (each heartbeat)

The second or bottom number is the diastolic pressure: this is the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between each heartbeat.

The blood pressure is usually measured on a person's arm, just inside the elbow at the brachial artery by a device called a sphygmomanometer.

Normally blood pressure at rest should be equal to or less than 120/80 mm of mercury (mmHg).

Upcoming blog posts: 

2. Why is high blood pressure (hypertension) important?

3. What causes hypertension?

4. What can we do to maintain a healthy blood pressure?

5. Will a Paleolithic lifestyle help to lower hypertension?

Workout: Deadlift Deadlock

190kg deadlift

Workout:

• 100 x 100kg Deadlift

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Rules:

Perform each deadlift as one single rep, repeated 100 times.  This is not for speed, but based on quality so take your time. 

That is:

• step to the bar, perform deadlift;
• set down weight slowly back to the ground;
• release grip, step away from bar and stand up straight;
• repeat. 

Note:

Please scale all Fitness Explorer workouts to your current ability.  Get adequate rest and adequate nutrition to fuel the activity and aid recovery.  Work hard but always aim for correct form.

Please visit the FAQ for details on individual exercises or consult the advice of a registered exercise professional.

If you are new to this type of exercise, try one of the beginner's circuits

Perform a warmup prior to activity, here's a Fitness Explorer example warmup

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Darryl Edwards

Workout: A Dead Jump

 Workout: A Dead Jump
 

Workout:

Every minute and a half for 10 rounds:

• 3 Deadlifts
• 3 Box Jumps
• 3 Deadlifts
• 3 Box Jumps

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Recommended Weight:

Men: 1 x bodyweight deadlift 

Women: 2/3 x bodyweight deadlift

Note:

Please scale all Fitness Explorer workouts to your current ability.  Get adequate rest and adequate nutrition to fuel the activity and aid recovery.  Work hard but always aim for correct form.

Please visit the FAQ for details on individual exercises or consult the advice of a registered exercise professional.

If you are new to this type of exercise, try one of the beginner's circuits

Perform a warmup prior to activity, here's a Fitness Explorer example warmup

--

Darryl Edwards

Workout: Clap Push-Up, Clap Pull-Up

Clap Push-Up, Clap Pull-Up

Workout:

8 Rounds For Time: 

• 10 kettlebell swings
• 10 kettlebell front (goblet) squats
• 7 clap push-ups
• 4 clap pull-ups

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Recommended Weight:

Men: 24kg kettlebell (for front squat hold weight close to chest)

Women: 16kg kettlebell (for front squat hold weight close to chest)

Note:

Please scale all Fitness Explorer workouts to your current ability.  Get adequate rest and adequate nutrition to fuel the activity and aid recovery.  Work hard but always aim for correct form.

Please visit the FAQ for details on individual exercises or consult the advice of a registered exercise professional.

If you are new to this type of exercise, try one of the beginner's circuits

Perform a warmup prior to activity, here's a Fitness Explorer example warmup

--

Darryl Edwards