Hiking & High Blood Pressure

Question:

Is it safe to hike if you have high blood pressure?

Submitted by – Kelle S., Kearney, MO

Answer:

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and you are following a regimen from your doctor for controlling it, then there are no specific dangers from backpacking that I know of. The exercise, in fact, will help control most forms of high blood pressure. I was diagnosed with essential hypertension (high blood pressure) more than 15 years ago, and started taking meds to control it. Since then I’ve logged a lot of miles under a backpack and climbed several times to more than 20,000 feet in elevation with no problems. If there is a danger, I would say it’s from letting it hold you back.