For the 50 million Americans with some level of high blood pressure, there's been a long-standing rule that weight training wasn't healthy. The fear was that it could send blood pressure higher, and perhaps even bring on a heart attack. This thinking is now being revised. Several recent studies have shown only modest elevations in blood pressure during lifting, and many researchers believe the benefits far outweigh the risks. If you know someone who has high blood pressure, they should get clearance from their doctor before starting a strength-training program.
Chances are, they'll get that clearance.
They also scored higher on tests of oral language skills. Plus, mood enhancement occurred in all ages, both genders, and among the physically disabled as well. Literature reviews such as this one provide an even more convincing argument that being active is an effective way to overcome mild depression, anxiety, stress and fatigue.