If one has mild high blood pressure as I do...and take a few meds for it...how can you properly do maximum heart rate intervals if you meds don't allow your heart to speed up? I guess I should talk to my MD more about this. Maybe I should just try cadence methods instead. I don't think I can get my heart rate past 130 beats or so. Does anyone else have an issue with this type of thing, and what can we do about it?

If one has mild high blood pressure as I do...and take a few meds for it...how can you properly do maximum heart rate intervals if you meds don't allow your heart to speed up? I guess I should talk to my MD more about this. Maybe I should just try cadence methods instead. I don't think I can get my heart rate past 130 beats or so. Does anyone else have an issue with this type of thing, and what can we do about it?

What meds are you on?

Not all BP meds cause a change in heart rate.

If you are on a beta-blocker, there are other options available that may be suitable.

Talk to your doc about this and explain your concern.

I used to take Diovan and HCTZ, which did not affect my heart rate.

I have just switched (today) to an ACE inhibitor and HCTZ.

Both of them seem to control everything just fine.

I am 64 and get my heart rate up over 155.

Hi Dnvr,

I take atenolol which is a beta blocker and lisinopril which I believe is an ACE inhibitor.

Hi Dnvr,

I take atenolol which is a beta blocker and lisinopril which I believe is an ACE inhibitor.

As I understnd it, current (and latest) medical thought is that HCTZ should be tried as the primary defense against hypertension.

Have you tried HCTZ?

It is probably the least "invasive" (and cheapest) of the alternatives. I take 12.5 mg daily.

Perhaps HCTZ combined with an ACE inhibitor would be appropriate?

Anyway, I would certainly discuss this with your doc. I told my doc (new one) just this week that no way would I go on a Beta blocker, unless it was absolutely necessary. The doc had no problem with that.

I have controlled my BP pretty well, however, through a lot of biking, also.