Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

Hypertension is elevated arterial blood pressure. Common thresholds: ACC/AHA (2017) define stage 1 as 130–139/80–89 mmHg and stage 2 as ≥140/90 mmHg; older/ international cutoffs often use ≥140/90. Aerobic exercise is a recognized non-pharmacological treatment.

Exercise prescription (ACSM):

• Aerobic — primary: most, preferably all, days of the week; 30 min/day of continuous or accumulated moderate-intensity, totaling ~90–150 min/week.
• Intensity: moderate (e.g., ~40–<60% VO2R/HRR, or RPE 12–13) is the mainstay; build a base before any vigorous work.
• Resistance: 2–3 days/week, moderate intensity, all major muscle groups — as a complement, not a substitute, for aerobic work.
• Expected effect: aerobic training lowers resting BP by roughly 5–7 mmHg systolic/diastolic on average in those with hypertension.

• Avoid Valsalva / breath-holding during resistance training — it spikes BP; exhale on exertion (breathing-valsalva).
• People on beta-blockers have blunted HR responses → use RPE/talk test rather than target HR; beta-blockers and diuretics can affect thermoregulation/hydration.
• Antihypertensives can cause post-exercise hypotension → emphasize gradual cool-downs; rise slowly to avoid dizziness.
• Favor dynamic, large-muscle aerobic work; avoid sustained isometrics at high intensity unless specifically prescribed (though some low-intensity isometric protocols are studied for BP).

• Do not begin/continue exercise with uncontrolled, markedly elevated BP — common caution is to avoid exercise if resting SBP > ~180 mmHg or DBP > ~110 mmHg until controlled; get medical guidance.
• Obtain medical clearance if there are CV symptoms or known CVD (medical-clearance-screening).
• Stop and seek care for chest pain/pressure, severe breathlessness, dizziness/syncope, palpitations (cardio-safety-contraindications).

Educational only; not medical advice. Manage blood pressure and exercise under physician guidance; do not change medications based on this content.

• ACC/AHA: stage 1 130–139/80–89; stage 2 ≥140/90 (older cutoff ≥140/90).
• Aerobic: most/all days, ~30 min/day, ~90–150 min/wk, moderate intensity (primary).
• Resistance 2–3 d/wk, moderate, all major groups (complement).
• Typical BP reduction ~5–7 mmHg with aerobic training.
• Avoid Valsalva; use RPE if on beta-blockers; defer exercise if SBP >180 or DBP >110.

• cardiovascular-disease — overlapping CV risk management.
• metabolic-syndrome — hypertension is a component.
• breathing-valsalva — avoiding BP spikes.
• fitt-vp-cardio — applying FITT to the aerobic dose.