Brisk Walking is key to lowered blood pressure
Walking no doubt is one of the most advised exercises with people complaining of overweight or high blood pressure. A team of researchers from Korea who spoke at the annual meet of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) have stated that walking can be vital in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and improved heart health.
This Korean study has discussed about how walking for about 40 minutes per day has lowered blood pressure in patients with hypertension. For the morbidly obese, an US study shows that taking a regular stroll helps immensely. Usually, a normal blood pressure remains at 120/80. If the blood pressure stays between normal and high blood pressure, it is known to be perhypertension.
In their research the Korean team, took 23 men with hypertension or prehypertension with a blood pressure of about 140 over 90 or more The Korean researchers measured the blood pressure prior to and after a 40 minute brisk walk and with four bouts of ten minute walks.
Saejong Park, PhD, Korea Institute of Sport Science, Seoul, stated that the blood pressure of these 23 men dropped similar amounts after the exercises. While with 40 minute walk the top number of the blood pressure dropped about 5 points, with 10 minute walk, it dropped 3 points. The bottom number of the blood pressure dropped 2 points for both type of walks.
The researchers expressed hope that if the subjects keep up the exercises, then there would be significant change in the blood pressure. The people who face lack of time in day can do bouts of the walking exercises to reap the same benefits as the ones working out for longer time at a time.
The ACSM calls for healthy adults to go for 30 minutes of physical activity in a moderate level at least five days a week. Jeffrey A. Ross, DPM, a clinical professor of medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, suggests to alternate walk with other exercises. He claims that in this manner, the various muscles in a body will get regular exercise. He suggests that rather than walking seven days a week, if one just takes a break from walking for a day and goes about swimming or even biking, it will help exercise other muscles. If a person has about a BMI of 46 or more, he is considered to be morbidly obese.
The US study took 14 patients who were scheduled to go for weight loss operation and asked them to about one mile with a brisk pace. The patients were allowed to slow down or take breaks in between and they finished the mile in 30 minutes. Thomas Spring, MS, a senior exercise physiologist, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Mich stated that these higher heart rate provide benefits in terms of cardiovascular health. He however advised to start any exercise regimen after consulting with a physician.