The American Heart Association (AHA) issued a statement in support of aerobic exercise, resistance or strength training and isometric handgrip exercises to lower high blood pressure (hypertension).
The Scientific Statement summarizes the blood pressure-lowering efficacy of several non drug approaches and to provide a class of recommendation for their implementation in clinical practice. Robert D. Brook, Chair of the AHA’s research panel and an associate professor of medicine at the University of Michigan (Michigan, USA), report that exercise-based regimens, including aerobic, dynamic resistance, and isometric handgrip modalities, have “relatively stronger supporting evidence,” lending the panel to write: “It is the consensus of the writing group that it is reasonable for all individuals with blood pressure levels >120/80 mm Hg to consider trials of alternative approaches as adjuvant methods to help lower blood pressure when clinically appropriate.”
References:
- Brook RD, Appel LJ, Rubenfire M, Ogedegbe G, Bisognano JD, Elliott WJ, Fuchs FD, et al; on behalf of the American Heart Association Professional Education Committee of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research, Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, and Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity. “Beyond Medications and Diet: Alternative Approaches to Lowering Blood Pressure: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.” Hypertension. 2013 Apr 2.
