title: Exercise intensity modulates nitric oxide and blood pressure responses in hypertensive older women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Whether intensity or other characteristics of physical activity can better promote the release of nitric oxide (NO) and reduction of blood pressure in hypertensive older-adults is still unknown. In this study, the post-exercise blood pressure (BP) response and NO release after different intensities of aerobic exercise in elderly women were analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood pressure response and NO were analyzed in 23 elderly mildly hypertensive women. Participants underwent (1) high-intensity incremental exercise (IT); (2) moderate-intensity 20 min exercise at 90% of the anaerobic threshold (AT), and (3) control (CONT) session. BP was measured before and after interventions; volunteers remained seated for 1 h. NO estimates were made through NO2- analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After CONT session, both diastolic BP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were significantly higher than during pre-exercise resting. Post-exercise hypotension (PEH) was observed after exercise at IT and 90% of AT. Although exercise in both sessions lowered SBP and MAP compared with CONT, exercise at the highest intensity (IT) was more effective on lowering systolic BP after exercise. In comparison with pre-exercise resting, NO2- increased significantly only after IT, but both exercise sessions caused NO2- to increase compared with CONT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise intensity and NO release may exert a role in eliciting PEH in mildly hypertensive elderly women.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Physical Education and Health, Catholic University of Brasília, Q.S. 07, lote 01, EPCT, Águas Claras, Taguatinga, Brasília, DF, CEP 71966-700, Brazil. hsantana85@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hugo A P
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.forename: Sérgio R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Ricardo Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Marcelo M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.forename: Cláudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Córdova
authors.forename: Carmen S G
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Foued S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Espindola
authors.forename: Andrei C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sposito
authors.forename: Otávio T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Nóbrega
authors.forename: Herbert G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Simões
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide