Exercise To Lower Blood Pressure

A new study from the University of Connecticut was designed to show patients with hypertensionĀ that exercise has an immediate, positive effect onĀ blood pressure. During the study, half the 24 participants checked their blood pressure twice a day as well as before and after exercising. The others didnāt check their pressure at all. Most exercised on a treadmill,Ā performingĀ 40-minute supervised sessions three times a week for 12 weeks at moderate intensity. They wereĀ alsoĀ encouraged to exercise at home. Blood pressure fell by about 10 points among those who checkedĀ their pressure, double the drop seen among those whoĀ didnātĀ monitor their pressures.Ā A month later the researchers found thatĀ 60 percent of the participants in the first group were still measuring their blood pressure and exercising for 45 minutes at least three and a half days per week. Those who didnāt check their pressuresĀ during the studyĀ were exercising for about 19 minutesĀ once a week.Ā Study leader Amanda Zalewski Ph.D.,Ā noted that the blood pressure reductions seen after exercise are āreally powerful for someone with hypertension because it enables (patients) to demonstrate to themselves that their blood pressure is lower on days they exercise.āĀ
Ā Source:
Amanda L. Zaleski et al āUsing the immediate blood pressure benefits of exercise to improve exercise adherence among adults with hypertension.āāÆĀ Journal of Hypertension, May 2019; 1 DOI:āÆ10.1097/HJH.0000000000002115Ā
Ā More from this weekās bulletin:Ā
- HowĀ To Lower Your RiskĀ Of Early DeathĀ
- Best Time To ExerciseĀ
- Cool Summer Refresher:Ā Yogurt-Lime DrinkĀ