Re. Yoga: contra-indication re. headstand and High Blood Pressure?!


Question: Although headstand is very healthy for some people it is not so for everybody. Usually people with high blood pressure which is controlled are able to do most yoga inversions to some degree.

The reason why it is dangerous to do headstand in situations where blood pressure is not controlled is because Headstand inverts the pattern of blood pressure in the body increasing it in the head and dropping it in the feet.

The blood pressure at the top of the head increases from 100/60 mm Hg(millimeters of mercury) in a standing position to 150/110 mm Hg in the Headstand.

The blood pressure of the feet in a standing position will be about 210/170 mm Hg and it will drop to 40/0 mm Hg in the Headstand.The blood pressure will remain the same at 120/80 mm Hg at heart level.

Here is a site that explains high blood pressure and yoga inversions:
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/594


Answers: Although headstand is very healthy for some people it is not so for everybody. Usually people with high blood pressure which is controlled are able to do most yoga inversions to some degree.

The reason why it is dangerous to do headstand in situations where blood pressure is not controlled is because Headstand inverts the pattern of blood pressure in the body increasing it in the head and dropping it in the feet.

The blood pressure at the top of the head increases from 100/60 mm Hg(millimeters of mercury) in a standing position to 150/110 mm Hg in the Headstand.

The blood pressure of the feet in a standing position will be about 210/170 mm Hg and it will drop to 40/0 mm Hg in the Headstand.The blood pressure will remain the same at 120/80 mm Hg at heart level.

Here is a site that explains high blood pressure and yoga inversions:
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/594

I have been attending yoga classes for about 5 years now. Our teacher, who is over 80 believe it or not, has always told us that she never has and never would include the head stand in her classes because of the high blood pressure risk/connection.





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