The Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Hypertension: Current Consensus and Emerging Research

Abstract

Hypertension is one of the most important cardiovascular disease risk factors due to its high prevalence and significant medical costs. The Eighth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure and the American College of Sports Medicine recommend lifestyle modifications such as habitual physical activity as initial therapy to prevent, treat, and control hypertension. The purposes of this chapter are to: (1) overview the current consensus on the effects of acute (immediate, short-term, or postexercise hypotension) and chronic (long-term or training) aerobic exercise on blood pressure among individuals with hypertension; (2) discuss new and emerging research on the effects of acute and chronic aerobic exercise on blood pressure that has the potential to alter the way in which aerobic exercise is prescribed to prevent, treat, and control hypertension in the future; and (3) present exercise prescription recommendations and special considerations for individuals with hypertension that consider this new and emerging research.