Running after giving blood (and wonky bp)?

[Kristen]

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[ultraslacker]

I would definitely NOT run on the same day after giving blood. It's too much exertion for your lowered blood volume.

Once I tried running the *next* day after giving blood... thought I felt fine, but within 20 minutes I actually passed out on the side of the road when I stopped for a light. A woman in a car offered me a ride and I passed out again in her car.

Not worth the risk. :)

[Doonst]

Don't run tonight. I'm all for zany stunts but, don't run tonight. Signed, passed out last time. Just from standing up at a concert. Hit head, real sore head. Run tomorrow. I usually run the day after with no issues, just easy though.

[ultraslacker]

ps: I also don't donate whole blood during a training period, as it has too great of an effect on my training... plasma is another option which doesn't take as much out of you (literally! ;).

[Kristen]

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[ultraslacker]

Not wanting to hit head or pass out, I came home after work instead of going to the gym. Hrm... what to do, what to do? :D 8)

a) Put pajamas on before 6:00 pm - check!
b) Have dinner before 8:00 pm- check!
c) Curl up with a fabulous movie of my choosing before hubby gets home - check!

Ah...impromptu rest days are indeed luxurious. I do, however, feel guilty about missing the run.

I'll get the run in tomorrow on my originally-scheduled rest day.

guilty? you gave the gift of life. no guilt allowed. :)

enjoy your movie!

[Tori]

I am hypertensive and it always throws the doctors for a loop when they see the meds I take while being active, thin and eating a normal diet. I blame it on bad genes as I come from a family of hypertensives. In my experience the doctors have always been more concerned with the bottom number if it hits over 80 vs the top number unless of course your top number is sky high. In your case your BP yesterday was very good on the bottom number. The top number just a tad higher than they like. There can be many factors that can cause a blip, how they take your BP, drinking coffee, stress that day, etc. It is best to monitor your BP over a period of time to see an average as it can change from minute to minute. If you are a bit worried because of your family history take your BP over the course of a week to see what it averages out to.

[Jwolf]

On a separate related note: my blood pressure was 128/62 today. This has me concerned. Last December, before I started running regularly, it was 124/73. And this was no cause for concern given the fact that I was moderately active. And in December of 2007, another year I was moderately active, it was 120/56. And in October that same year it was 112/66.

I don't think you need to be concerned about 128/62. Blood pressure can vary a lot over the course of a day, and the single number you get from a reading in a doctor's office or blood clinic is not that precise. Blood pressure really needs to be taken several times over the course of a day and averaged to be accurate.... it can vary much through a range much bigger than the numbers you have given throughout the course of a day, and those numbers you have there are not high. It will depend on things like whether you had french fries for lunch that day or whether you've recently had coffee, and even how nervous you are about the appointment.

I've taken my BP out of curiousity at the self-serve stations at our supermarkets and pharmacies. My normal BP is in the 120/60 range, but at the supermarket once it was something like 140/80! I sort of worried, but then sat there, relaxed, took it again, and it was back down to the normal range. I do find that if I've had coffee recently, it's on the higher side temporarily but I can bring it down by relaxing.

[Kristen]

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[Darth Tater]

I looked into a BP monitor, though I never bought one. The pharmacist was very helpful....

[NewFinnLoper]

My mom has one...I don't know the make and model though...I think it is pretty accurate as she purchased it on a doctor's advice. I can find out if you like..

(we actually have contests to see how low we can get ours by relaxing while taking it...)

[ultraslacker]

(we actually have contests to see how low we can get ours by relaxing while taking it...)

wild family you have. ;)

[Tori]

I bought an Omron Automatic BP Monitor at Shoppers. I think it was around $100. It is very handy to have in the house.

[BJH]

My mom has one...I don't know the make and model though...I think it is pretty accurate as she purchased it on a doctor's advice. I can find out if you like..

(we actually have contests to see how low we can get ours by relaxing while taking it...)

That sounds like a fun game. And, in my family, one I would always win.

My Mom has one, too. I have no idea on the brand.

[seuss]

we have whatever Costco was selling and are very happy with it. helpful eh?

[Robinandamelia]

I run after donating blood and have never had a problem, although you should run very slow as you may feel a little sluggish. It would really depend on how you feel and how you generally are after blood donations. I've been donating for a really long time and not sure if that makes a difference or not.

[Kristen]

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[ultraslacker]

I run after donating blood and have never had a problem, although you should run very slow as you may feel a little sluggish. It would really depend on how you feel and how you generally are after blood donations. I've been donating for a really long time and not sure if that makes a difference or not.

I don't think how long a person has been donating has any influence--I've been donating for over a decade, and my passing out thing just happened this year. :) I've always felt fine after a donation, but I do feel it in my runs for about a week.

[deerdree]

(we actually have contests to see how low we can get ours by relaxing while taking it...)

wild family you have.

we had a big family + friends dinner over the holidays last year and played "whoever had the lowest blood pressure gets the last cookie" (i also have bad genes and come from a family of hypertensives. a friend won. this year i will wise up and take my meds just before dinner!)

[toobusy]

No one here has posted any BP that would make me take notice. Not even 140/80.

[Jwolf]

No one here has posted any BP that would make me take notice. Not even 140/80.

Well, when compared to my normal BP, it was quite alarming. Until I realized that there is such a wide fluctuation during the day.

How much you are hydrated can make a huge difference, too.

[VeloCarrie]

No one here has posted any BP that would make me take notice. Not even 140/80.

Agreed.

[Kristen]

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[toobusy]

I ended up buying an automatic blood pressure monitor on my way home. It runs on four AA batteries and looks simple enough to use (haven't tried it out yet). I'm seriously concerned that my blood pressure is climbing in a year that I've seriously stepped up physical activity; after all, shouldn't it be the reverse -- variables that day notwithstanding? My family has a history of hypertension and this is the highest reading I can recall. I figure there is no time like the present to monitor this and make sure I don't ever see 140/80. What's more, I think it's a good piece of technology to have around.

'textbook perfect' (average) is 120/80, and heart rate average is 72bpm. it would be interesting to see how things change as you go....

[ultraslacker]

I ended up buying an automatic blood pressure monitor on my way home. It runs on four AA batteries and looks simple enough to use (haven't tried it out yet). I'm seriously concerned that my blood pressure is climbing in a year that I've seriously stepped up physical activity; after all, shouldn't it be the reverse -- variables that day notwithstanding? My family has a history of hypertension and this is the highest reading I can recall. I figure there is no time like the present to monitor this and make sure I don't ever see 140/80. What's more, I think it's a good piece of technology to have around.

'textbook perfect' (average) is 120/80, and heart rate average is 72bpm. it would be interesting to see how things change as you go....

resting heartrate average is 72??

I haven't measured mine in ages but when I used to track it, I was in the 52-54 range. Gotta love being a runner.