| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
candym
Chatty Knitter
343 Posts |
 Posted - 04/11/2007 : 09:00:04 AM
|
It must be true! Last week I knitted a lot and read some, and yesterday my blood pressure was lowest ever!
candace |
|
|
knitwitch39
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
482 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2007 : 11:30:55 AM
|
Yep, it is!
I'm part of a clinical trial, and part of my visit-routine requires my blood-pressure to be (automatically) taken 6 times each visit. There's a 2 minute gap between readings. Excess movement and talking skews the reading so I have to be still---but I take advantage of the situation to *see* how different activities of mine change my blood-pressure. I can't knit just then but I can read about it, and I've tested meditation and chanting. There isn't any difference in the readings taken when I am chanting or meditating...but reading about knitting usually results in lower bps than either of the other two. 
Yvonne
*You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps!* |
 |
|
|
Celtic Memory Yarns
Warming Up
Ireland
62 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2007 : 12:03:04 AM
|
Knitting USED to relax me - but that was before I got into Sock Madness (http://sockmadness.wordpress.com/). Now knitting means staying up all night, wading into terrifying new patterns, tackling challenges I'd have wilted at before - and trying, always trying, to beat both the clock and some incredible speed knitters out there. Relaxing? Not exactly. Good for the blood pressure. I think not! But fun? Oh yes. Wouldn't have missed it for the world!
Jo |
|
|
|
pamela.cichon@spcorp.com
New Pal
2 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2007 : 06:41:17 AM
|
Knitting is definitely good for your blood pressure. I have seen that an evening of knitting can lower my blood pressure. I have also found that knitting has helped me recover from brain aneurysm surgery. Due to complications during the surgury, I was having a hard time with my left hand which lost most of its ability to work. Through knitting and crocheting, I was able to strengthen my hand and now can say it has healed me 100%.
Pam |
|
|
|
becka always
Permanent Resident
USA
1959 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2007 : 09:58:08 AM
|
As for my blood pressure, that's not been checked when I'm knitting, but I'm very sure it reduces it because knitting helps me keep my mind off of my pain. When I'm in an intense amount of pain my blood pressure shoots up, when I'm not in as much pain it's normal. You see, I'm disabled (several hip replacements/other hip-leg surgeries/ongoing partial hip dislocations, yadda yadda yadda.... which have all left me living in pain...but that's okay, I'm not dying, I'm very blessed! And, I have a wonderful pain specialist that I've seen for years) and have been living in pretty much constant, often severe pain and about 3 years ago I began knitting hoping that it might give me something to do and keep my mind off of my pain and I'm happy to say that it has done just that. As a matter of fact, my pain meds have been reduced, too. I told my pain specialist about it and he recommends such hobbies to his other patients, too.
So, yeah, all that said to say knitting helps with my bp, too! Isn't knitting just a wonderful art?!
Addicted to the Knit
Becka
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y119/rebeccame/avatarslinkyfeet.jpg[/IMG]
Whimsical Knitting |
|
|
|
theatresmiles
New Pal
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2007 : 10:30:38 AM
|
| I always get really nervous when I go to any doctor so of course my blood pressure is always high. Next time I have to go to the doctor I will take some simple knitting with me to work on in the waiting room. Maybe that will help. Thanks for the advice. |
|
|
|
hannabirke
New Pal
Canada
10 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2007 : 3:39:07 PM
|
I don't know if knitting lowers my blood pressure, it's pretty low to begin with, but knitting brings me a lot of joy.
I picked up knitting again in October 06 - 2 months before the unexpectedly loss of my father. The last five months have been demanding and knitting gives me something lovely to think about.
I look forward to knitting every evening after work and Thursdays I look forward to finding Knitter's Review in my e-mail.
I am grateful for knitting and Knitter's Review.
Michele
http://www.knitsane.squarespace.com |
|
|
|
RuthiesMom
New Pal
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2007 : 04:13:32 AM
|
I know that knitting helps blood pressure - but I must say that I knit on prescription from my rheumatologist. I have 4 different forms of arthritis, all of which affect my hands to some degree or other. I was waiting for the doctor at one of my appointments, and was knitting on one of my projects as I waited. He walked into the exam room, saw me knitting, and we talked about how it was beneficial to my hands - and that with all the arthritis activity I have in my system, how much therapeutic value was to be had by knitting. He said that anything I could do to keep my hands moving would be good for me overall. So, for me, knitting is a prescribed form of physical therapy. Now - I wonder if the IRS would accept my expenses for knitting as deductible ...
|
|
|
|
lucienh
Honorary Angel
919 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2007 : 04:49:15 AM
|
| Michele, my sympathies on the loss of your father. My own father died last October; the months following are stressful, but knitting helps. |
|
|
|
knitcatmom
Warming Up
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2007 : 3:02:22 PM
|
Knitting helps me to get and stay healthy in a round-about way. I started knitting while walking about a month ago. I'd been walking since December, but was getting bored. Being able to knit keeps me from getting bored, and helps me to go farther than normal since my mind is not on how I feel. I've always had low blood pressure so that's not a problem (except for the time I was almost in an accident with an 18-wheeler on the way to the doctor's office, but I don't think that counts), but I was able to lose about 16 pounds since December - only 9 more to go.
|
|
|
|
Catlover
Gabber Extraordinaire
370 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2007 : 4:24:47 PM
|
| It's great news that some of you have evidence that knitting has helped with blood pressure. I'm trying to be less stressed and have always been a knitter. Last fall I injured my hand and had to drastically reduce my knitting for far too long. Now I'm back to serious knitting and hope it will help my blood pressure. You give me hope. |
|
|
|
linann
Warming Up
USA
87 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2007 : 07:56:59 AM
|
Wouldn't it be great if our doctors gave us a prescription to knit. Then the insurance companies and medicare could pay for our yarn and knitting supplies.  LOL
Linda |
|
|
|
Catlover
Gabber Extraordinaire
370 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2007 : 1:48:36 PM
|
| Oh linann, I love your idea! Just think how fun it would be to have knitting as a prescription. The cost benefit alone is wonderful to dream about. |
|
|
|
knittingbuzz
Permanent Resident
USA
1122 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2007 : 02:57:40 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by linann
Wouldn't it be great if our doctors gave us a prescription to knit. Then the insurance companies and medicare could pay for our yarn and knitting supplies. LOL
Linda
Now thats what I'm talking about! |
|
|
|
fiddlerbird555
Permanent Resident
USA
1429 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2007 : 10:06:47 AM
|
Well, my blood pressure isn't high. Do you suppose knitting could lower my cholestorol? It HAS motivated me to take public transit to work, saving money, getting a 10-minute walk, helping the environment.
____________________________________________________
I can go loopy, or I can knit. Your choice. |
|
|
|
lella
Permanent Resident
9697 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2007 : 10:55:07 PM
|
Walking is always good for what ails ya. Walking while knitting might be even better, if you don't stumble on the needles.
My PT gave me knitting as a strengthening exercise. Candace, big congratulations on the BP coming down so well. Yay!
Lella
[img]http://www.geocities.com/zippianna/turtle.gif[/img]
My Knitting & Blabbity blog. Come on in and set a spell.
|
|
|
|
Carol
New Pal
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2007 : 6:46:12 PM
|
I have a new mantra. "Knitting is my oxygen" I need it every day to keep me going, keep me peaceful, keep me happy. I can't do without it.
Carol in St. Louis
Today is a gift - that's why it's called the Present :) |
|
|
|
schrafinator
Chatty Knitter
332 Posts |
Posted - 06/26/2007 : 06:51:59 AM
|
I knit most of a lovely mohair comfort shawl for my mother while seated in the waiting room at the hospital. She was getting open-heart surgery to replace a faulty valve. She was a heavy smoker for 50 years, so her lungs were in pretty bad shape and they were worried about the anashesia.
It was very comforting for me to have something soothing and meditative to quiet my mind, and then she had something soft and warm to help her in her recovery.
My mother is a crusty old broad, though, who doesn't like "little old lady" stuff, so I didn't call it is "shawl". I called it a "lapghan" when I gave it to her! LOL |
|
|
|
knit.unwind
Chatty Knitter
Singapore
169 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2007 : 9:51:01 PM
|
I find knitting relaxing and help calm my nerves. I enjoyed knitting in the evening when I am home from work.
So glad there are others who enjoyed this healthy hobby..
cle
Knit to unwind |
|
|
|
Minerva Turkey
New Pal
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2007 : 8:26:54 PM
|
I have been home on bedrest, and intensive physical therapy via home machine for the last month. Knitting is the only thing that has helped me with the pain. Pain pills just knock me out, and I hate feeling "not like me" So I knit to cope with the pain. It really works wonders. I have already finished two pair this month, and I have made some progress on a shawl I am working on. It is a great and healthy outlet.
"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" Anon
http://minervaturkey.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
busygirl
Permanent Resident
Australia
1672 Posts |
|
| |
Topic |
|
staying healthy
