2010 Hong Kong Reference Framework for Hypertension Care for ...

Module 6Exercise Recommendations to People with Hypertension(Adopted from Department of Health Central HealthEducation Unit Exercise Prescription 2011 Edition)1. Effect of ExerciseEpidemiological studies suggest that regular physical activity may be beneficialfor both prevention and treatment of hypertension, to enable weight loss,for functional health status, and to diminish all-cause mortality and risk ofcardiovascular disease. Cross-sectional studies of select populations from Chinaand other Eastern populations have confirmed the presence of a strong associationbetween physical inactivity and an adverse heart disease risk factor profile 1 . InJapanese men, duration of walk-to-work and leisure-time physical activity wassignificantly associated with a reduction in the risk for incident hypertension 2 . Ameta-analysis of randomized controlled trials concluded that dynamic aerobicendurance training reduces resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures by 3.0/2.4mmHg, and daytime ambulatory blood pressure by 3.3/3.5 mmHg. The reductionin resting blood pressure was more pronounced in the hypertensive group (-6.9/-4.9 mmHg) than in the normotensive group (-1.9/-1.6 mmHg) 3 . Even moderatelevels of exercise lowered blood pressure, and this type of exercise also reducedbody weight, body fat and waist circumference 4 . Dynamic resistance exercisecan also decrease resting blood pressure by 3.5/3.2 mmHg 5 .2. Recommendations for Exercise PrescriptionThe following table summarises the exercise prescription that is recommendedfor patients with hypertension in general.PhysicalActivityProfileRecommendations*Frequency • Perform aerobic exercise preferably all days of the week 6 .• Supplemented by resistance exercise twice to thrice weekly onnonconsecutive days 6 .* Given that many patients may present with comorbidities, it may be necessary to tailor theexercise prescription accordingly.1 HK Reference Framework for Hypertension Care for Adults in Primary Care Settings