RELATIONSHIP OF BLOOD PRESSURE RESPONSES TO ISOMETRIC EXERCISE IN NON-HYPERTENSIVE MEDICAL STUDENTS WITH FAMILIAL HYPERTENSION

Abstract

Background

Blood pressure (BP) rises as a result of isometric exercise, but if such type of exercise is done on a regular basis both resting diastolic and systolic blood pressures (SBP and SBP) have been reported to decrease. However, the blood pressure responses to handgrip (isometric) exercise may vary. The aim of this study is to find out whether there is a significant relation between blood pressure responses due to handgrip (HG) exercise and family history of hypertension.

Methods

This is cross sectional study conducted in Khyber Medical College on healthy students of first and second year MBBS. After taking informed consentand history, the students were made to perform the hand grip exercise for 5 minutes at 30 % of their maximum pressure. BP was recorded before during and after the procedure. The data was then analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 keeping, P value ≤ 0.05.

Result

The change in SBP was significant both during (p=0.024) and after (p=0.033) hand grip exercise. The relation between 30% of maximum pressure applied and change in SBP is significant (p<0.001) in the familial hypertension present group only.

Conclusion

 There was significant change in systolic blood pressure in response to handgrip exercise in the group of subjects with familial hypertension positive group. Hence concluded that a relation does exist between blood pressure responses to handgrip exercise and familial hypertension.