title: Exercise lowers blood pressure in university professors during subsequent teaching and sleeping hours.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  University professors are subjected to psychological stress that contributes to blood pressure (BP) reactivity and development of hypertension. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise on BP in university professors during teaching and sleeping hours.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve normotensive professors (42.2 ± 10.8 years, 74.2 ± 11.2 kg, 172.8 ± 10.4 cm, 20.1% ± 6.7% body fat) randomly underwent control (CONT) and exercise (EX30) sessions before initiating their daily activities. EX30 consisted of 30 minutes of cycling at 80%-85% of heart rate reserve. Ambulatory BP was monitored for 24 hours following both sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BP increased in comparison with pre-session resting values during teaching after CONT (P < 0.05) but not after EX30. Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BP showed a more pronounced nocturnal dip following EX30 (approximately -14.7, -12.7, and -9.6 mmHg, respectively) when compared with CONT (approximately -6, -5 and -3 mmHg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise induced a BP reduction in university professors, with the main effects being observed during subsequent teaching and sleeping hours.
authors: Graduate Program on Physical Education and Health, Catholic University of Brasilia, Brasilia.
authors: Fabiana
authors: F
authors: Ribeiro
authors: Carmen S Grubert
authors: CS
authors: Campbell
authors: Gisele
authors: G
authors: Mendes
authors: Gisela
authors: G
authors: Arsa
authors: Sérgio R
authors: SR
authors: Moreira
authors: Francisco M
authors: FM
authors: da Silva
authors: Jonato
authors: J
authors: Prestes
authors: Rafael
authors: R
authors: da Costa Sotero
authors: Herbert Gustavo
authors: HG
authors: Simões