Exercising regularly and still not getting the results you expected? Well, that may be because, it’s not suited for you. New studies have shed light on how your blood type and blood group, may impact the effect exercise has on your blood pressure.
While exercise is often the first thing people opt for, when thinking of controlling high blood pressure, which one should they go for? Is a question that is rarely asked?
But a recent study by the American Heart Association did just that, 93 trials were conducted over at least four weeks and the results documented to check the impact of exercise on blood pressure.
Exercise was classified into three broad categories of dynamic aerobic (e.g., running, biking, etc.), dynamic resistance (using force to contract muscles while the muscles’ lengths change, such as when lifting weights or doing push-ups), and isometric exertion (sustaining contraction against an immovable force or object without altering muscle length, such as when doing hand-grip exercises).
Supporting the idea that any exercise is better than no exercise, the analysis found that all three types significantly lower blood pressure, both in people who don’t yet have hypertension and in people who have high blood pressure. Moreover, all three types consistently lower systolic blood pressure (the higher number in readings, a measure of blood pressure when the heart is beating) and diastolic blood pressure (the lower number in readings, a measure of blood pressure between heartbeats).
There were, however, some nuances in the results. The researchers said their analysis indicates that isometric exercise might be most effective in lowering systolic blood pressure, although they cautioned that they didn’t look at enough data to categorically assert so.
They also said that, for people who already have hypertension, aerobic exercise appears to be more effective than dynamic resistance exercise. Men seem to get a greater blood-pressure-lowering effect from aerobic exercise than do women, the researchers said.
Moderate- to high-intensity aerobic exercise appears to be more effective than low-intensity aerobic activity, the researchers said. In addition, the researchers said, the weight loss often associated with starting an aerobic exercise program might increase that form of exercise’s role in lowering blood pressure.
So there you are, now before you take the jump and start just “any exercise”, get yourself checked properly and take up the activity that is suitable for your specific condition. Not only will it yield better results, it will also help you spend the golden years of life healthier.
