Hypertension

Fifty-Plus Fitness Library

Library : Year 2 | Session 5: Wellness Through Understanding - Overweight, Diabetes, Hypertension

HYPERTENSION

Hypertension is a major health problem in Western industrialized countries, with as many 50 million people in the United States with an elevated blood pressure(BP) or taking antihypertensive medications.

EFFECTS OF EXERCISE

One session of dynamic exercise usually produces a normal rise in systolic BP from baseline levels in unmedicated persons with hypertension. Diastolic BP may not change, or may even slightly rise during dynamic exercise. Exercise tolerance may be enhanced by control of hypertension with lifestyle modification and , if warranted, well-tolerated antihypertensive medications.

MANAGEMENT

For control or overall cardiovascular risk reduction, or both, it is recommended that people make the following lifestyle modifications, according to the American College of Sports Medicine:

Lose weight if overweight
Limit alcohol intake to < 1 ounce per day of ethanol (24 ounces of beer, 8 ounces of wine, or 2 ounces of 100 proof whiskey).
Exercise (aerobic) regularly.
Reduce sodium intake to less than 2.3 grams per day.
Maintain adequate dietary potassium, calcium, and magnesium intake.
Stop smoking and reduce dietary fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol intake.

The decision to initiate drug therapy requires the following consideration:

Severity of BP elevation
Presence or absence of target-organ disease
Presence of absence of other medical conditions and cardiovascular disease risk factors.

EXERCISE PROGRAMMING

People with BP >180/110 add endurance training only after drug therapy. The mode (large muscle, aerobic activities), with frequency of 3 to 7 days/week, 20 to 60 minutes duration, 50 to 85% max oxygen consumption, (40 to70% lowers BP about the same. Don’t depend on strength training, since it alone hasn’t proved to lower BP.