"No Sweat" Move SLASHES Blood Pressure
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted October 11, 2023
“Want to lower your blood pressure? Exercise!”
It’s common advice. In fact, if you have hypertension, I bet you’ve heard it at least a dozen times from your doctor.
But if you’re like MOST folks, every time you’re given the “exercise or else” lecture, it triggers visions. And NOT the good kind.
Maybe it’s you in agony dragging yourself up a hill in a tracksuit with sweat POURING off your face. Or you’re grimacing in pain as you struggle to lift a 300-pound dumbbell off the ground.
If that sounds familiar, I have GREAT news. New research reveals you can follow your doc’s advice AND never break a sweat.
According to a new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, isometric exercises could be the key to slashing blood pressure.
In fact, researchers say the exercises improved volunteer’s blood pressure essentially as well as common blood pressure medications!
Now, you’re probably wondering what isometric exercises ARE and if they’re difficult. Well, I have more good news.
Not only are they FAR easier to do than that sweatfest you’ve been dreading… they’re PERFECT for anyone who’s not exactly a spring chicken anymore.
Isometric exercises are where you contract your muscles but don’t move your joints like planks, wall presses, and wall sits.
The idea is you hold the muscle contraction so that the length of the muscle doesn’t change during the exercise. And while isometrics are great for everyone, these exercises are PERFECT for most older folks because you’re less likely to strain and hurt yourself.
But isometric exercises aren’t only good for improving your blood pressure. They have bunches of OTHER proven benefits:
- They boost heart health beyond just lowering blood pressure. Holding isometric contractions increases the strength of heart contractions.
- They improve joint pain by strengthening muscles. Strong muscles support and stabilize joints, reducing pressure and slashing joint pain.
- They reduce muscle imbalances. Most of us have some muscles that are overworked and others that are underworked. Isometric exercises can help address these imbalances, evening things out, improving strength, and reducing discomfort.
- They improve balance by strengthening our core and stabilizing muscles.
Isometric exercises require little to no equipment, and nearly anyone can do them. In fact, some are so simple, such as tightening and holding your core muscles or shoulder rolls, that they can be done while sitting and watching your favorite TV show.
And yet, you’ll STILL be gaining strength, improving your heart health, and lowering your blood pressure.
If you need inspiration (or demonstrations) try searching YouTube for “isometrics for seniors” or “easy isometrics.” Just be sure to get your doctor’s thumbs up before you get started.
P.S. Researchers have uncovered a “miracle molecule” that naturally lowers blood pressure and could send your heart disease risk plummeting up to 26 percent. CLICK HERE for the details.
Source:
Edwards JJ, et al. “Exercise training and resting blood pressure: a large-scale pairwise and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials,” British Journal of Sports Medicine Published Online First: 25 July 2023. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106503
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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