Hypertension and exercise. Where do we stand?
Several risk factors have been identified in patients with essential hypertension. The question is whether regular exercise programs can either prevent or alleviate elevated blood pressure. Published studies generally indicate that aerobic exercise of large-muscle groups can be used as an interventional regimen for hypertension. For mild hypertension, moderate-intensity walking is recommended at least three times a week. Improvement may not be evident in less than 6 months. When exercise alone is not effective or when hypertension is more severe, exercise can still be used as an adjunct to pharmacologic therapy.
Yeater
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West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506.
Ullrich
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D001794:Blood Pressure; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*