Our busy lives and sedentary desk jobs hardly give us any opportunities to use our physical strength to the fullest. We may sign up for a gym membership every year but actually go barely for a month. As we progress on the age bar, our fitness bar shows a different story. That’s when we start hearing words like hypertension and start popping pills frequently.

Exercise could be as good as medicines

A recent study from December 2018 noted that the effects of exercising and being active on the body could be just as good as taking anti-hypertensive medicines to control high blood pressure. The study also showed that a combination of exercising and taking medicines reduced the systolic blood pressure (the higher of the two values in your blood pressure) more effectively than individual methods.  The results of the study are applicable to people of all races and ethnicities.^[2] That gives us enough motivation to put our jogging shoes on, right?

Good news for people with resistant hypertension 

In resistant hypertension, the blood pressure remains high even after taking medicines to lower it. A study published in the Hypertension Journal of the American Heart Association (AHA) showed that exercise could be used to manage resistant hypertension. In the study, the systolic blood pressure went down by an average of almost 6 points for participants with resistant hypertension who carried out aerobic exercise. From these results, it can be said that regular exercise could help in controlling even drug-resistant hypertension.^[3]

What exercises should I do to control my hypertension?

The first thing to remember is, if you haven’t stretched your muscles in a while, you might want to start slow. The idea of getting fit and lowering your blood pressure may sound exciting, but you run the danger of overdoing it on the first day. Instead,  start with a 20-minute workout session initially, and gradually increase the duration of the exercise over the following days. Here are some exercises that can help you control your high blood pressure:

• Brisk walking regularly for about 30 to 45 minutes daily can help reduce your blood pressure by 5 to 8 mmHg. Make this a fun activity by going outdoors or asking a friend to join you on your walk. Go for a hike once in a while, and use the stairs as often as you can.
• Swimming and biking are other fun ways that you could incorporate exercise in your schedule. Going social with these activities can be a good motivator. Join a group or class that regularly sets out on such fun activities.
• Resistance exercises can also be included on alternate days, like light weightlifting. Strength training – 10-15 repetitions of each exercise – can be incredibly beneficial. Besides, it will give you some variety, and break the monotony. In addition, building muscle mass keeps the resting metabolic rate high and helps keep the flab off even when you are not exercising.
• Aerobics is another way you can include a healthy amount of exercise in your routine. It is an invigorating form of exercise, and fun if you do it with friends. You can start at 20 minutes thrice a week and go up to 150 minutes a week. ^{[4, 5]}

These exercises will not only help you control hypertension but also help make your muscles stronger and burn away hidden fat, giving you a healthier and leaner body. Remember that moderation is the key. Start slow and do not go overboard. Consult your doctor about how much exercise is recommended for your age and health status before you begin any exercise routine. Most importantly, don’t be disheartened if you don’t see the results at first. Sustained efforts will pay off in time. So get your sports shoes on and work up a sweat!