Effects of habitual exercise on blood pressure during aerobic and resistance exercise in older individuals

Abstract

Blood pressure increases transiently during exercise in proportion to exercise intensity as a response to the increased demand for blood flow to the muscles. However, in addition to exercise intensity, many factors, including age and arterial stiffness, affect blood pressure during exercise. Aerobic exercises such as walking and cycling and resistance exercises such as lifting objects and climbing stairs are part of daily life activities. Therefore, exaggerated blood pressure responses to exercise increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. In this paper, the effects of habitual exercise on blood pressure during aerobic and resistance exercise are reviewed.