Effect of isotonic exercise on cardiovascular parameters in medical students with parental history of hypertension – An institutional study

ABSTRACT

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is one of the most common and a high-risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to identify students who are at risk of developing HTN with positive parental history of HTN and to compare the effects of isotonic exercise on cardiovascular parameters among the students with and without positive history of parental HTN. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 students participated in the study out of which 21 students had positive history of parental HTN with at least one parent having history of HTN and 29 students had negative history of parental HTN. Baseline pulse rate (PR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of the participants were recorded. Then, all the participants performed Harvard step test for 3 min. The SBP, DBP, and PR were measured immediately after stopping the exercise and after 3 min and after 5 min of stopping the exercise. Data were statistically analyzed using unpaired t-test and ANOVA. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: PR recorded after 3 min of stopping of exercise was significantly higher in the participants with positive parental history of HTN than the other group. SBP recorded immediately and after 3 min and after 5 min of stopping exercise was significantly higher in the participants with a positive history of parental HTN as compared to the other group. However, no statistically significant difference was observed in DBP between the two groups. Conclusion: Students with positive parental history may have relatively higher risk of developing HTN in future as an exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise was observed in them in this study.