Tag: heavy lifting
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Heavy Lifting and Blood Pressure Spikes: Who Is At Risk and Safer Alternatives
Why heavy lifting can cause dangerous blood pressure spikes Maximal weight lifting places substantial demands on the cardiovascular system. During intense lifts, particularly when lifters use the Valsalva maneuver (holding breath during exertion), intrathoracic and intra-abdominal pressures rise sharply. This can transiently compress major blood vessels and force the heart to work harder, causing systolic…
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Heavy Lifting and Blood Pressure: Who Is At Risk and Safer Alternatives
Understanding the Risk: Why Heavy Lifting Can Elevate Blood Pressure Leading neurologists warn that maximal weight lifting can cause dramatic spikes in blood pressure, sometimes exceeding 300 mmHg. While these surges are typically temporary, they can carry serious implications for certain individuals. Factors such as the Valsalva maneuver—holding breath during lifts—can dramatically increase intrathoracic pressure,…