BLOOD PRESSURE AFTER EXERCISE

Normally, blood pressure increases from resting level with exercise. Based on
criteria used for exercise treadmill tests, any decrease in blood pressure during
exercise might be a sign of heart disease. The same is true, to a lesser extent, if
there is a failure of the blood pressure to increase with exercise. Once exercise
has stopped, blood pressure should return to resting levels and may even drop to
slightly below pre-exercise levels for a while based on a number of factors, like
any medications one might be taking, overall fitness level, and the type and
duration of exercise.


The whole question of what your fall in blood pressure really means depends on its
timing. If it occurs during exercise or soon after stopping, talk to your doctor
about having some sort of stress test (an exercise treadmill test or a stress
echocardiogram), because, even though you feel well, this could be a warning sign
of early heart disease. It may not be, but the exercise testing will help sort this
out.If you have any risk factors for heart disease (smoking, high blood pressure,
diabetes, high blood cholesterol levels, or close relatives with heart disease before age 45),then a treadmill test might be an even better idea.

BLOOD LOSS RECOVERY

On average a normal, healthy individual who donates or looses a unit of blood (about 450 ml or ¾ pint) will fully recuperate from the blood loss in four to six weeks.

The four to six-week period I indicated is the time necessary to replace ALL these factors, though our bodies actually replace some of the individual components faster than others.

For example, the fluid (mostly water) lost in a blood donation, is replaced in only a few hours, provided the person drinks a moderate amount of water or healthy, non-alcoholic liquids to replenish the loss.

The other components of the blood, such as platelets and red cells begin to replenish immediately but take a bit longer to complete; usually within a few days or weeks depending on how much blood is lost.

Generally speaking, after losing a unit of blood, the body replaces the fluid and white cells within 24 hours, and platelets and plasma proteins within 48-72 hours. The red blood cells are completely replaced in 4-6 weeks.

How fast the entire blood loss is replenished obviously depends on the amount of blood lost, the size of the individual (for every 12-15 pounds of body weight, a human being has about one pint of blood) and the health of the individual from whom the blood is removed.