Hypertension and exercise: the basis for prescription

Authors

  • José Pedro Marques Médico Interno de Medicina Desportiva; Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra
  • João Páscoa Pinheiro Professor de Medicina, Médico Assistente Hospitalar Graduado de Medicina Física e Reabilitação, Especialista em Medicina Desportiva; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra
  • Manuel Teixeira Veríssimo Professor de Medicina, Médico Assistente Hospitalar Graduado de Medicina Interna, Especialista em Medicina Desportiva; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra
  • Domingos Ramos Médico Assistente Graduado de Cardiologia, Mestre em Medicina Desportiva; Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v31i1.11431

Keywords:

Hypertension, Exercise, Physical Activity

Abstract

Physical activity is associated with health benefits including a reduction in blood pressure (BP). A recent meta-analysis shows that exercise may reduce BP to a degree comparable to first-line BP-lowering drugs. It was originally thought that the BP-lowering effect of exercise was limited to endurance exercise and that resistance or isometric exercise was harmful. Recent evidence contests this idea. The evidence is scarce but suggests a role for exercise in the primary prevention of hypertensive disease. The favourable influence of exercise on important risk factors such as hypertriglyceridemia and overweight has already been demonstrated. Exercise is important in the primary and secondary prevention of hypertension. For most patients, the benefits of exercise largely exceed the risks. For individuals at risk, medical evaluation is indicated in order to allow safe and patient-oriented prescription of exercise.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2015-01-01

Issue

Vol. 31 No. 1 (2015): Revista Portuguesa de Medicina Geral e Familiar

Section

Opinion and Debate

License

The authors will assign to the RPMGF the sole right to publish and distribute the content of the manuscript specified in this declaration via physical, electronic, broadcasting or any other medium that may come into existence. They also grant the RPMGF the right to use and exploit this manuscript, in particular by assigning, selling or licensing its content. This permission is permanent and takes effect from the moment the manuscript is submitted, has the maximum duration allowed by applicable Portuguese or international law and is of worldwide scope. The authors further declare that this assignment is made free of charge. If the RPMGF informs the authors that it is not going to publish their manuscript, the exclusive assignment of rights ceases forthwith.

The authors authorise the RPMGF (or any entity it may appoint) to act on their behalf when it believes that copyright may have been infringed.

 

How to Cite

Hypertension and exercise: the basis for prescription. (2015). Portuguese Journal of Family Medicine and General Practice, 31(1), 46-50. https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v31i1.11431