Hypertension is the most common preventable cardiovascular disease risk factor worldwide. In order to reduce the burden of hypertension a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are suggested by international guidelines. Physical activity, mostly in the form of structured exercise ...
Hypertension is the most common preventable cardiovascular disease risk factor worldwide. In order to reduce the burden of hypertension a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are suggested by international guidelines. Physical activity, mostly in the form of structured exercise training programs, is a well-established non-pharmacological intervention for preventing the increase of blood pressure in normotensive subjects and for reducing blood pressure values in patients with hypertension. However several questions, regarding the exact “doses” and modalities of exercise to be administered in different clinical contexts for reaching specific goals, remains to be established. For example there is a need for developing models capable to predict the individual hypotensive response to a given exercise taking into account the comorbidities of the subject. there is also need for developing individualized exercise protocols for lowering blood pressure in high-risk subjects undergoing secondary prevention/rehabilitation programs. The effectiveness and safety profile of low-intensity exercise modalities, including oriental disciplines, on blood pressure values deserves new insights, since this type of exercise appear to be particularly suitable for elderly and frail hypertensive subjects who are prevented or not willing to perform exercise at higher intensities. Moreover the potential synergic effects between exercise and different groups of anti-hypertensive drugs remain largely unexplored. High blood pressure variability has also been related to an increased rate of cardiovascular events, independently from blood pressure values. To date there are very few studies investigating the impact of physical activity and exercise training on blood pressure variability; overall they indicate that different exercise modalities elicit different effects on blood pressure variability and that these effects are dissociated from those exerted on average blood pressure values. Therefore further studies are warranted in order to discover the optimal exercise protocols for reducing blood pressure variability in subjects with normal blood pressure and in those with hypertension, and to understand underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
In this Research Topic, we will accept manuscripts within this area of research, with the purpose to provide readers a comprehensive overview on the current and emerging exercise-based interventions for the prevention and management of hypertension and high blood pressure variability.
Keywords:
Exercise training and hypertension
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