Effects of aerobic exercise and drug therapy on blood pressure and antihypertensive drugs: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Although aerobic exercise has been shown to lower blood pressure (BP) in human beings, its additive BPreducing effect on antihypertensive drug therapy seems to have been investigated in only laboratory animals. Objectives: This study investigated the effects of aerobic dance combined with antihypertensive drugs on BP and number of antihypertensive drugs in individuals with hypertension.Methods: This open label randomised-controlled trial involved new-diagnosed male and female individuals with mild-tomoderate essential hypertension after at least four weeks of treatment. They were randomly assigned to drug therapy (Normoretic: Hydrochlorothiazide + amiloride hydrochloride, and Amlodipine) (control: n=33) and aerobic dance combined with drug therapy (exercise: n=30) groups. Intervention in each group lasted 12 weeks. BP was measured at baseline and during and pos-intervention. Number of antihypertensive drugs was recorded post-intervention. Results: There were significant reductions in SBP at some periods of the intervention in the exercise group (p=0.000 to 0.002) and control group (p=0.001 to 0.002), and significant difference in DBP at some periods of the intervention in exercise group (p=0.000 to 0.003) and control group (p=0.000 to 0.001). SBP (p=0.066) and DBP (p=0.100) did not differ between the two groups post-12-week intervention. The BP control rates were similar between the exercises (56.7%) and control (35.5%) groups (p=0.075). Similarly, between-group difference in the number of drugs was not significant (p=0.511). Conclusion: This preliminary report demonstrates the tendency of aerobic dance to enhance BP control in individuals on two antihypertensive drugs without BP control.

Effectiveness of multidisciplinary intervention on blood pressure control in primary health care: a randomized clinical trial

“…The protocol required that both groups practiced physical activity twice a week and participated in health education workshops once a month. It was demonstrated in a prior study that more participants in the exercise group (56.7 %) than in the control group (35.5 %) attained adequate BP control (<140/90 mmHg) post-12-week interventions [ 41 ].…”

Sexual Behaviour of Men and Women within Age-Disparate Partnerships in South Africa: Implications for Young Women's HIV Risk

“…Given that previous studies on age-disparate partnerships have typically been conducted at either a national level [ 16 – 18 , 29 ], or within urban settings [ 15 , 19 , 20 ], another important gap in our understanding is the extent to which sexual behaviour in age-disparate partnerships differs between urban and rural contexts. Research on urban-rural differences in sexual behaviour suggests that individuals living in urban areas are more likely to have current regular sex partners and have had multiple partners [ 30 – 32 ], but are also more likely to use condoms [ 31 , 33 – 36 ]. Significantly greater access to condoms in urban areas [ 36 ] likely explains, in part, differentials in unprotected sex across regions.…”

Relationship Of A Community Physical Activity Program With The Number Of Antihypertensive Drugs Used By Elderly Women With Arterial Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Given that a myriad of studies showed bene cial effects of physical activity on the blood pressure of individuals with systemic arterial hypertension, physical activity may complement the blood pressurelowering effects of antihypertensive drugs [12,18], thereby reducing the number and/or dose of drugs required [7,12]. This matter is very important because a number of daily antihypertensive drugs tablets intake greater than two has been associated with no adherence to drug therapy [19].…”