THE EFFICACY OF EXERCISE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTENSION

This article discusses the research on the efficacy of exercise as a b ehavioral intervention for the management of HTN. Aerobic exercise is widely believed to be associated with improvements in physical and psy chological functions that are altered by sustained blood pressure (BP) elevations. However, published results from controlled studies of the effects of regular exercise have yielded inconsistent results. Genera lly, cross-sectional studies demonstrate a positive relationship betwe en exercise and lower BP levels, but many studies are plagued by metho dological weaknesses. Results from interventional trials are less cons istent, in part, due to the relatively few studies that have compared exercise to either pharmacologic therapy or placebo. This review criti cally examines empirical evidence that exercise may prevent or reduce HTN, discusses potential mechanisms for the effects of exercise, and s uggests directions for future research.