Hypertension In Athletes Essay

Hypertension in Athletes Being physically active on a regular basis is important for achieving optimal health. Besides from dietary and lifestyle changes, exercise plays a vital role in being healthy one of which by lowering blood pressure. Athletes are thought out to be in their most physical and overall optimal health due to their intense levels of cardiovascular exercise. Yet athletes are not excused from developing a cardiovascular disease or hypertension. There is however a lower prevalence of athletes having hypertension, about 50 percent lower (Niedfeldt, M., 2002). Elevated blood pressure screenings are one of the most widespread abnormalities stumbled upon in the athlete community. Blood pressure is established by the amount of blood …show more content…
Medication prescribed to hypertension athletes need to monitored to see the effect, antihypertensive drugs can have a harmful effect on exercise tolerance. Examples of pharmacologic treatment for hypertension include beta-blockers, alpha-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, ace inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers. Each of these aids in reducing hypertension by either slowing heart rate, induces dilation of arterial blood vessels, or blocks the action of angiotensin II hormone. Even though antihypertensive medications do help reduce hypertension, athletes are prohibited from using some of these medications due to U.S Olympic Committee (USOC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) The U.S Olympic Committee and the National Collegiate Athletic Association banned the use of diuretics and beta-blockers. Athletes should use the non-pharmacologic options for a more beneficial outcome, however the use of alpha-blockers and calcium channel blockers in black athletes are allowed because neither displays any harmful effects on energy metabolism during exercise nor on the maximum oxygen uptake (Leddy, J., & Izzo, J.,