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Guided walking reduces blood pressure in hypertensive sedentary subjects including those with resistant hypertension

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 35, pages 226–231 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

Hypertension poorly responsive to medications is defined resistant hypertension. We have previously shown that 1-year of guided walking is followed by highly significant reduction of systolic blood pressure in hypertensive subjects. Aim of this study was to assess the effect of a 1-year of guided walking on the blood pressure of sedentary hypertensive subjects including patients with resistant hypertension. Two hundred and fifty-nine sedentary subjects with systolic pressure ≥130 mmHg were subdivided in a group without blood pressure medications and in a group taking three or more antihypertensive drugs, including diuretics. Blood pressure, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and walking speed were determined at enrollment and after 1-year of walking, supervised by exercise physiologists. At baseline, systolic pressure was significantly higher in the subjects under therapy (144.6 ± 12.2 vs. 140.2 ± 10.7). Two hundred and three subjects (124 without and 79 with therapy) completed the program. During the 1-year program each subject walked ~220 h. After 1-year a significant decrease (P < 0.0001) of systolic pressure was observed in both groups. The decrease was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in the subjects under therapy. The decrease of systolic pressure was directly proportional to baseline values. Diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in both groups. In conclusion, habitual walking may lead to clinically significant reductions of blood pressure in therapy resistant hypertensive subjects.

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Fig. 1: Relationship between baseline SBP and its decrease after 1 year of walking.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Exercise Science and Sport, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

    Simona Mandini, Francesco Conconi, Elisa Mori, Lorenzo Caruso, Giovanni Grazzi & Gianni Mazzoni

  2. Public Health Department, AUSL, Ferrara, Italy

    Giovanni Grazzi & Gianni Mazzoni

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  1. Simona Mandini
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  2. Francesco Conconi
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  3. Elisa Mori
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  4. Lorenzo Caruso
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  5. Giovanni Grazzi
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  6. Gianni Mazzoni
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Correspondence to Simona Mandini.

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Mandini, S., Conconi, F., Mori, E. et al. Guided walking reduces blood pressure in hypertensive sedentary subjects including those with resistant hypertension. J Hum Hypertens 35, 226–231 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-020-0324-6

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