Exercise training in female patients with a family history of hypertension

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in the effects of exercise training between those with a parental history of hypertension and those without such a history. A group of 39 middle-aged hypertensive women were submitted to a 4-month exercise training programme. On the basis of their family histories, 18 individuals were classified as those having a positive parental history of hypertension (group P) and 21 individuals as those without such a history (group N). Both groups participated in a supervised training programme with the intensity set at the level producing the threshold lactate concentration for 90-120 min twice a week, together with self-determined aerobic exercise three times a week. Vital age was estimated to determine the health-fitness status. At the end of the training, group N exhibited reductions in the systolic and diastolic blood pressures at rest (12.6/ 8.0 mmHg) and increases in the peak oxygen uptake [VO2peak 21.1 (SD 5.2) vs 25.2 (SD 5.7) ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)] and oxygen uptake corresponding to lactate threshold [13.7 (SD 2.4) vs 17.0 (SD 2.0) ml x kg(-1) min(-1); P < 0.05]. Group P also showed reductions in the resting blood pressures (8.9/2.9 mmHg; P < 0.05), with no change in VO2peak (P > 0.05). There were no changes in the blood lipid and haematocrit variables in either group. The vital age decreased by approximately 4 and 7 years (P < 0.05) for groups P and N, respectively. These results would indicate that exercise training is a useful, nonpharmacological tool for the treatment of essential hypertension, especially in patients with no family history of arterial hypertension.