Riding in Good Health

[sokay]

Seems like every middle aged or older person I know has been sentenced to take a blood pressure pill every day for the rest of her/his life. It's actually wierd. Is this a by-product of the modern way of life? Anyway, I am 54, so I checked my B/P the other day for the first time in 6 or 7 years: 106/79. For those of you young enough not to have ever paid attention to such things, these are good numbers. The first thing I thought of was the bike. I am sure, doubly certain, that riding the ST every day helps to make me a calmer, more relaxed, and certainly happier person. I considerd putting the numbers on the back of my helmet. :D

[Putt]

Seems like every middle aged or older person I know has been sentenced to take a blood pressure pill every day for the rest of her/his life. It's actually weird. Is this a by-product of the modern way of life? Anyway, I am 54, so I checked my B/P the other day for the first time in 6 or 7 years: 106/79. For those of you young enough not to have ever paid attention to such things, these are good numbers. The first thing I thought of was the bike. I am sure, doubly certain, that riding the ST every day helps to make me a calmer, more relaxed, and certainly happier person. I considered putting the numbers on the back of my helmet. :D

Sokay,

right about where mine is also... cholesterol is a bit high, and my Thyroid is
slowly shutting down (no biggie, controlled with Synthroid). As far as
blood pressure goes, I have a relatively low stress life, I don't worry too
much about much of anything... It does not take much to keep me happy
:) I guess that is a major factor.... Yeah, getting out and riding is a GREAT
way to make yourself "feel good".... Carving those corners at multiples of the
suggested speed limit is fun, but so is just taking your time and taking those
turns at or below the suggested limit, just feeling the bike "do it's thing"
even at low speeds... Heck sometimes it takes me three or fours hours to
run a hundred miles... Sometimes you just HAVE to stop and "smell the roses"

Don't worry now, there is plenty of time for that after you die....

Putt...

[fundyrider]

I'd never dispute that lifestyle and being content has a huge impact on a persons health, but illness can strike anyone at any time, regardless. It's just the randomness of life. A few months ago, my brother-in-law died at 53, drugs, booze and inactivity killed him, no surprise he died so young, but I have a friend who has been told he has a year to live, good clean living man, fit, ect. 54, it shook me to the core when I heard it. My older brother retired at 55 in excellent health, 6 months later he was in chemo, he's fine now.
I'm going to enjoy life to the fullest while I can.
Peter :04biker:

[nofinishline]

...and congrats on your numbers!

I think that good health is a result of many factors, but the most important (in my humble opinion) is understanding the mind/body connection. I would venture that most of us who ride continue to "stay in our bodies" rather than tuning out and just letting outside circumstances dictate a "reaction" from us. I call it proactive living.

Since motorcycle riding is really physical, each time we go for a ride we cease being sedentary beings. Plus, all of those feel good internal drugs are released....endorphins, adrenoline...and these boost our immune system and keep our minds and bodies in top form.

Research is showing that cognative skill use is one of the most important factors in slowing the overall aging process. Since we have to continually shift, brake, adjust to the road and all the variables that come along with the ride, we go through an intense cognative work out each time we straddle our rides.

I have noticed that my stress level has changed since I've been riding. There are many times that my body and mind are stressed during a ride, but this is not a negative. Overall, my life stressors have been greatly reduced as a direct result of riding, which is now such a large and important part of my life style.

Here's to many good years ahead for all of us! :04biker:
nfl

[nm6r]

I ride too fast to worry about high cholesterol or high blood pressure. :D

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[sherob]

I ride too fast to worry about high cholesterol or high blood pressure. :D
Ray

:crackup I take BP meds... have for close to 20 years now. Not a weight, diet, drinking, couch potato factor either... just have it. But at least I'm down to one pill instead of 3 since riding and de-stressing... :D

[STeve1300]

I believe it is better to have high blood pressure, than no blood pressure.

[CruisingDog]

I have a story to be told about BP medicine. I'm not going to tell you of all the anguish etc that I went through here but suffice to say I'm now not on meds!


Anyway, glad your BP is excellent. Live a happy long life. And remember to breathe ....that's the key!

[STumpy]

I have been off and on BP meds for 20 years. Last couple of years I have been on 2 meds. After my cancer surgery and the start of my chemo etc, the Doc said I could no longer take the one that was most effective. So now I check my BP regularly. What I noticed is that I can go for daily 15 to 20 minute walks and my BP will stay well in the normal range.

BUT! I discovered that going for a nice easy ride in the country has the same effect. So big decision - walk or ride ! I chose RIDE !

[Gonzo]

I keep my BP under control with regular and violent exercise. I don't want to get into a situation where I have to take pills. My mother takes several pills a day, and she's close to being 90.

I know this is an unpopular option, but this is my choice. In addition, a brisk one-hour run leaves me feeling great.

I also believe that a daily glass of wine or beer is essential for good digestion and cardiovascular health. I enjoy, and rarely skip mine.

I was only yesterday reading in my newspaper that regular sex contributes to longevity in both men and women. One great form of exercise.

I look at it as a choice between investing in health with work, or taking the easy way out and submitting to the doctors and spending all my money on medications.

Both SWAMBO and I are big advocates of home-cooked food rather than poorly prepared restaurant (or worse, fast-food) fare.

gonzo

[sherob]

I've been on BP meds for 22 years :rolleyes: Was diagnosed with hypertension when I was 24 y/o, was borderline when I was 18. I weighed 145lbs at the time, ex HS tennis team player, lifeguard... so not fat or out of shape.

No matter how much weight I gain/lose over the years, it really doesn't change much... just the pills change with new meds introduced :rolleyes:

[Mark]

I've been on BP meds for 22 years :rolleyes: Was diagnosed with hypertension when I was 24 y/o, was borderline when I was 18. I weighed 145lbs at the time, ex HS tennis team player, lifeguard... so not fat or out of shape.

No matter how much weight I gain/lose over the years, it really doesn't change much... just the pills change with new meds introduced :rolleyes:

I'm on the other side of this one; from 18 (1st time I remember it being checked) to 54 120/80. I'm not a jock, never have been (well okay I was on the golf team if you count a 4 mile walk working out... :-) )
Weight has varied from 124 to 190 during that time...

But, I do recognize that Gonzo has it right... put in exercise time and our bodies will do us proud for a long, long time.

Mark

[wjbertrand]

I've been on BP meds for 22 years :rolleyes: Was diagnosed with hypertension when I was 24 y/o, was borderline when I was 18. I weighed 145lbs at the time, ex HS tennis team player, lifeguard... so not fat or out of shape.

No matter how much weight I gain/lose over the years, it really doesn't change much... just the pills change with new meds introduced :rolleyes:

Sounds like my story - mildly elevated since as far back as I can remember. The medical community are more aggressive about treating it these days than they used to be. A few years ago I dropped 65 lbs.. One of the benefits I was looking forward to is jettisoning the PB meds. Unfortunately the weight loss didn't even make a dent in it. :( . Still had some other benefits though:

-No more acid reflux problems, completely went away
-Back pain problems gone
-Wife says I rarely snore anymore
-Much more agile feeling, getting in and out of a car for instance, used to be a bit of a chore.
-Don't have to pay extra for the XXL t-shirts at WeSTOC anymore
-More cornering clearance on the ST
-Chicks ask me for my phone number now

[Mark]

-No more acid reflux problems, completely went away
-Back pain problems gone
-Wife says I rarely snore anymore
-Much more agile feeling, getting in and out of a car for instance, used to be a bit of a chore.
-Don't have to pay extra for the XXL t-shirts at WeSTOC anymore
-More cornering clearance on the ST
-Chicks ask me for my phone number now

you forgot
- enabled you to talk your wife into letting you get a new aerostich
- better performance due to svelt figure providing less wind resistance
- better performance due to less weight

And I never knew that you could speek chick; "peep, peep, peep" as "what is your phone number?"... :lol: :rolleyes: