Blood pressure during isometric and dynamic exercise under long-term antihypertensive treatment with beta receptor blockaders and diuretics

In 34 men with essential hypertension the increase in blood pressure during static and dynamic exercise, after long-term antihypertensive medication, was investigated in a randomized prospective study. The patients were randomized to either hydrochlorothiazide or to atenolol. The exercise tests were performed after a mean treatment duration of 14 months. At this time, the entering blood pressure was significantly and equally lowered from 163/108 to 148/96 mm Hg with a mean dose of 71 mg hydrochlorothiazide and from 164/108 to 147/91 mm Hg with a mean dose of 144 mg atenolol. The heart rate was significantly lower under beta-blocker therapy (62 min-1) than with diuretics (78 min-1). There were no significant differences in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure rise between the two therapy groups during static exercise with the hand grip (33% of the earlier determined individual maximum for 2 min duration) and with the squatting technique (for 2 min). During dynamic exercise on the bicycle ergometer (50-100 W) the increase in the systolic blood pressure was significantly lower between 70 and 100 W, with a range from 12 to 28 mm Hg, in the beta-blocker group than in the diuretic group. There were no differences in diastolic bl...Continue Reading