 |
|
|
 |
19 Dec 2018
Exercise – better than drugs at cutting high blood pressure?
BY
Tom Walker
|
The study could have an impact on the treatment of high blood pressure – a condition which is estimated to affect around seven million Britons
A new study has suggested that exercise could be as good at drugs at reducing high blood pressure. While the benefits of exercise on lowering blood pressure have been studied – and proven – before, the new research looked to determine how exercise compares with blood pressure lowering drugs, as no direct head to head clinical trials have yet been carried out.
Led by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) – and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine – the study pooled data from 194 previous clinical trials, assessing the impact of drugs on lowering systolic blood pressure, and 197 trials looking at the impact of structured exercise involving nearly 40,000 people.
While the results showed that people treated with drugs had lower blood pressure than those following structured exercise programmes, the findings also suggested that when analyses were restricted to those with high blood pressure, exercise seemed to be just as effective as most drugs. The effectiveness of exercise also increased the higher the patient's blood pressure was.
The study also found "compelling evidence" that mixing cv exercise – such as running, walking, cycling or swimming – with strength and/or resistance training seemed particularly effective in lowering blood pressure.
The study could have an impact on the treatment of high blood pressure – a condition which is estimated to affect around seven million Britons.
"These findings could be used to examine and improve the evidence base supporting exercise recommendations," the report states in its conclusions.
"While our findings support previous calls to prescribe exercise as a treatment option for hypertension, relatively little is known about the effectiveness and comparative effectiveness of implementation strategies for optimal exercise uptake.
"Healthcare systems are therefore ill-equipped to ensure effective adoption of and adherence to exercise prescriptions.
"Despite the availability of national guidelines promoting exercise, levels of physical activity remain stubbornly low worldwide."
"Given our findings that even low-intensity exercise may be effective in reducing blood pressure, renewed attention is warranted to identify effective strategies to promote exercise."
To read the full research, click here for the British Journal of Sports Medicine
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Connect with
Sport Parks Leisure |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| News headlines |
|
|
 |
 |
|
18 Apr 2024
The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) has released new data on the US’ wellness economy, valuing it at US$1.8 trillion. According to the
.... more>> |
|
|
|
 |
|
18 Apr 2024
The fitness sector’s pivot to active wellbeing is being discussed in a new weekly podcast, called The Conveners, and hosted by chair of GM Active and
.... more>> |
|
|
|
 |
|
17 Apr 2024
Everyone Active has launched a golfing brand, Everyone Golf, after new contract wins made it the UK’s second-largest golf operator in the UK, with ten
.... more>> |
|
|
|
 |
|
16 Apr 2024
UK Active has announced details of its annual health and fitness industry awards ceremony, which will take place in Birmingham on the evening of
.... more>> |
|
|
|
 |
|
16 Apr 2024
Social enterprise, Places Leisure, which is part of the Places for People Group, has appointed Belinda Steward as MD. Steward was previously MD at
.... more>> |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| Company profile |
|
![]()
Alliance Leisure
Alliance Leisure Services was specifically
established to respond to the changing
development needs of the public sector,
education and growing leisure trust
market.
View full profile>> |
|
| Catalogue gallery |
|
|
| Featured Supplier |
|
 |
|
|
|
in this issue
• Virgin gets right to wipe out rent arrears
• Fitness industry mourns passing of Jan Spaticchia
• STA offers mindfulness resources
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Latest jobs |
 |
Centre Manager (Leisure)
Salary: £40,221 - £42,403pa + pension + benefits
Location: Exeter, UK
Company: Exeter City Council
|
|
Director of Operations
Salary: £61,000 - £64,000 + exceptional pension + excellent benefits
Location: Luton, UK
Company: Active Luton
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Diary dates |
|
| Powered
by leisurediary.com |
 |
|
|
|
|
