Exercise and Hypertension

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Hypertension is a major risk factor and contributor to premature death and disability from stroke, acute myocardial infarction, cardiac insufficiency, and sudden death. A person with a systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg has twice the risk of cardiovascular death as a person with a systolic blood pressure of 120 mmHg. Aside from drugs, regular exercise and lifestyle changes are significant treatments in correcting hypertension. It is important to help clients and patients achieving a certain minimum exercise level along with appropriate lifestyle behavioral changes. It is especially important to prescribe low to moderate 30 min of continuous exercise with a frequency of 3 to 5 d·wk-1 along with a certain amount of resistance training to maintain lean muscle mass.