About Careers MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

What Should be the Ideal Blood Pressure While Taking Exercise Tests?

by Rishika Gupta on February 14, 2018 at 5:22 PM
Font : A-A+

What Should be the Ideal Blood Pressure While Taking Exercise Tests?

Guideline to evaluate a person's highest blood pressure during a cardiopulmonary exercise test needs to be revised, suggests a new study. The findings of this study are published in the journal Hypertension.

"This is the first systemic effort to establish maximum exercise blood pressure norms in more than 20 years," said Shane Phillips, professor and associate head of physical therapy at the UIC College of Applied Health Sciences.

Advertisement


Cardiologists use cardiopulmonary exercise testing when patients complain of symptoms of cardiac stress, like unexplained shortness of breath, and by physical therapists when it is important to establish a patient's capacity for exercise.

Phillips, who is corresponding author on the study, and his colleagues in the Integrative Physiology Laboratory analyzed blood pressure response data collected over 30 years by FRIEND, also known as the Fitness Registry and the Importance of Exercise: A National Database, during exercise tests of 1,605 healthy men and 1,312 healthy women between the ages of 20 and 79. The researchers determined percentiles of maximal systolic and diastolic blood pressure for each decade of life.
Advertisement

The researchers found that peak systolic blood pressure, the first number of a blood pressure measurement that tracks the pressure in blood vessels when the heart beats, increased with age in both men and women up to age 60, after which there was a plateau.

They also found that neither group came close to reaching the current threshold of 90th percentile maximum systolic blood pressure during exercise to be considered exercise hypertension and at risk -- 210 for men and 190 for women -- until after the 4th decade.

"The data we saw was a bit lower than what older studies have shown," Phillips said. "This suggests there could be a valid case for lowering the threshold, especially in younger adults, in order to accurately identify someone with a borderline response who might benefit from preventive treatment."

The study also showed that men and women followed different patterns when it came to diastolic blood pressure, the second number that measures pressure in blood vessel between heartbeats.

"We found the trajectory of peak diastolic blood pressure with age is different between men and women," Phillips said. "Women showed a continued increase through the lifespan instead of reaching a plateau."

Phillips said this variation reflects differences in vascular physiology, like the greater worsening of ventricular diastolic stiffness with age in women, when compared with men.

Like systolic measurements, peak diastolic blood pressure measurements in the current study were lower than in previous studies.

"I think the take-home message from this study is that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work when it comes to cardiopulmonary exercise testing," Phillips said. "Peak blood pressure changes as we age and our standards evaluating a vascular response to exercise should better reflect norms by both age and gender."

Philips believes that more studies are needed before these results can be applied to the general public, as 94 percent of the subjects in this study identified as white and there were significantly fewer subjects in the last age group, between the ages of 70 and 79. Still, "the case is strong for further validation of these results to improve use and accuracy of exercise testing for diagnostics and screening," Phillips said.

Source: Eurekalert
Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Reading

Latest Hypertension News

 Keeping Blood Pressure Under Control is Good for the Brain
A new study shows that maintaining blood pressure at optimal levels is more effective in preserving brain health compared to standard treatment goals.
Does Strength Training Help Reduce Blood Pressure?
Engaging in moderate to vigorous intensity strength training activity two or three times a week can lower blood pressure (BP).
 High Blood Pressure in Children May Continue Till Adulthood
Hypertensive children are highly likely to become hypertensive adults and to have measurable target organ injury, particularly blood vessels, and valves in the heart.
Traffic Noise Is Pumping Up Your Blood Pressure
Navigating through congested road traffic not only makes people lose their cool but also may increase the risk of developing high blood pressure.
Moderate Salt Intake is Good for People With Hypertension
Is moderate salt good for people with high blood pressure (hypertension)? Yes, moderate salt restriction can lower blood pressure and depressive symptoms effectively.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

What Should be the Ideal Blood Pressure While Taking Exercise Tests? Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests