Dangers of weightlifting

[Andy62]

http://www.pulitzer.org/year/2004/ex...ks/story2.html

[AndrewS]

My recommendation (as an MD with hypertension who lifts weights)-

-check your BP regularly and, if elevated, modify lifestyle and risk factors.

-do regular 'cardio' - which has been shown to lower blood pressure

-regularly consume positive modifiers of endothelial function- dark chocolate, red wine, fatty fish, fish oil, walnuts, and other nuts

-if that fails, go to your physician and start an antihypertensive

-check your blood pressure immediately after doing heavy lifting; if it's greater than 190/100 (arbitrary, but a reasonable number for concern), realize you're taking a risk, and may want to modify your workout strategy.

Andrew

P.S. As all this article mentions is case-reports, it's pretty thin to make any treatment decision on. Large, prospectively controlled population studies are needed to really get any meaningful data on this subject.

P.P.S. As long as we're looking at anecdotal evidence, the rate of stroke and sudden death among okinawan karate practitioners (looking in Higoanna's 'History of Karate', and other texts) is pretty high. These are the folks who codified tension based sanchin, a quasi-isometric 'tension' form thought to massively elevate blood pressure.

[Chief Fox]

You could rupture a blood vessle sitting on the john taking a dump.

[WinterPalm]

You could rupture a blood vessle sitting on the john taking a dump.

A guy I work with coughed while doing said activity and tore several ligaments in his neck...

[Andy62]

All true, just take reasonable precautions, but don't stop living your life and doing what you want to do.

[Ford Prefect]

a quasi-isometric 'tension' form thought to massively elevate blood pressure.

There is experimental evidence to back this up as well, and it was even touched upon recently in a thread here. One of the major drawbacks seen from isometric exercise, even that which consisted of only 6 second contractions, was a large elevation in blood pressure. It is advised that anybody at risk for blood pressure related conditions not do them. I don't have my materials on me, but I could track down the studies this cites if interested.

[Chief Fox]

A guy I work with coughed while doing said activity and tore several ligaments in his neck...

LOL! Now that's funny.

[Andy62]

Life is a risk taking experience. If you can't take risk your life counts for nothing- you can't fulfill yourself and your destiny.
Actually aneurysms are hard to detect and can get a vulnerable person at anytime without warning. My exwife's aunt was a nurse who kept herself in great shape. She was slim and fit and paid great attention to her diet and exercised regulary. At age 35 she had an aneurysm while bowling and died on the spot. There was no family history of aneurysms.

I remember a quote by The Mighty Atom who performed strongman stunts into old age. He said,"this stuff is really dangerous, one weak blood vessel and it is all over."