ABSTRACT
Hypertension affects over 26.3% of the Egyptian population and is considered one of the most significant risk factors for morbidity and mortality from coronary heart disease, chronic renal failure, and stroke. Lifestyle modification especially physical exercise is a mainstay in the management of blood pressure control. We sought to assess the effect of graded walking exercise on blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Our study comprised 40 hypertensive patients with mild to moderate hypertension divided into 2 equal groups. Group I [experimental group] patients were given pharmacological medications and encouraged to graded walking exercise program and followed-up by the researchers over a period of eight weeks. Group II [control group] patients were given standard pharmacological medications only. The results showed insignificant difference between GI and GII in their weight and BMI on 2[nd], 6[th], and 8[th] weeks comparing with 1[st] week. A non-significant improvement between GI and GII was found in heart rate as a short term effects through walking exercises, [t = 2.03, p = 0.05]. Comparing between group I and group II regarding the benefits of walking program exercises on heart rate, systolic, and, diastolic blood pressure; a statistical significant difference was observed on 4[th], 6[th], and 8[th] weeks in relation to heart rate [p value = 0.00, 0.005, and 0.00], respectively, systolic blood pressure [p value = 0.00, 0.006, and 0.00], respectively, and diastolic blood pressure [p value = 0.009, 0.024, and 0.002] respectively. The results of the study strongly support the beneficial effect of aerobic regular exercise in reduction of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in hypertensive patients with pharmacologic treatment. Special attention should be paid to aerobic exercise for hypertensive patients and should be integral component of hypertension education program