HYPERTENSION, BETA-ADRENOCEPTOR BLOCKING-AGENTS AND EXERCISE

Studies have shown that regular exercise may contribute to a lowering of blood pressure in hypertensive patients. The extent of the blood pr essure reduction, however, appears to be limited and will in most case s be insufficient to normalize blood pressure in these patients. There fore, many of the physically active hypertensive patients will be trea ted with antihypertensive agents. Treatment of physically active patie nts with uncomplicated hypertension with beta-blocking agents has disa dvantages, since these agents reduce exercise capacity and may affect trainability in a negative way. beta(1)-selective blockers have less p ronounced effects than beta(1+2)-blockers and may be acceptable for so me patients. In patients with very high systolic blood pressures durin g exercise and those with impaired oxygen delivery to the heart during exercise beta(1)-selective blockers may have advantages over other an tihypertensive agents, since they very effectively reduce systolic blo od pressure and heart rate during exercise.