How High Does Systolic Blood Pressure Go Up During Exercise?
Systolic Blood Pressure Systolic blood pressure is the term given to blood pressure at its maximum levels as blood surges through the blood vessels, pumped by the heart. The higher the systolic blood pressure rating, which is read as millimeters of mercury (mmHG) in the blood, the more pressure is exerted on the walls of the blood vessels by the blood being pushed through at every beat of the heart. When fluid pressure was first being examined, samples were compared to how much pressure a column of mercury one millimeter high creates, so today blood pressure is still represented in the mercury measurement. Systolic pressure is directly connected with how hard the heart needs to work, which leads to very specific reactions when exercising–specifically aerobic exercises designed to work the heart itself. During the first few minutes of exercise the muscles need more energy, the blood needs more oxygen and the lungs work harder to get access to more air for this purpose. The heart, in tu
