Portal Hypertension and Exercise

[Gloriatoone]

Does anyone have any thoughts about portal hypertension and exercise? Is it important to keep your heart rate down?

[1football]

Hi

I was diagnosed with portal hypertension pre op and was on the transplant list for 17months, I was encouraged to excercise as much as I felt I could do and I believe it’s helped me enormously in my recovery but speak with your GP/Consultant first as we are all different with different health risks

Good luck

Huw

[Gloriatoone in reply to 1football]

Thank you. I was just worried that the exercise would bring my heart rate up and that might cause the portal hypertension to get higher and more apt to get varices.

[kurtymac in reply to Gloriatoone]

Exercise is good, but you're right to be concerned. My buddy has cirrhosis and they told him not to do a lot of exercise right now due to PHT. When I had drug induced hepatitis, I had acute PHT and I was running to try to get my body back to heal, even though I felt horrible. I thought it would help, however, the pressure increase was bad for me and caused a hernia, linea alba split right down the middle. It's definitely good to ask your gp or hepatologist prior to exercise and discuss the increase of heart rate and what this does on the actually pressure being forced through your portal system.

[Hidden]

I have been told by more than one consultant that it is absolutely fine to carry out exercise (I do circuits once a week) and the only thing I have to avoid is weights. Small weights is fine, but no weight training. I have portal hypertension also. In fact exercise has been encouraged. I feel much better for doing it too.

[HalM]

Keep exercising it improves general fitness and better enables body to cope with stress of illness

[mncold]

Hi Gloriatoone,

This type of question is probably best answered by your doctor and his office. They would have the most recent and important aspects of your illness.

I'm guessing that the answer might be different based on factors that would include portal hypertension, but not necessarily only that.

Best wishes,

Mary