This Slow-Moving Exercise Lowers Your Blood Pressure More Than Aerobic Activity, According to a New Study
Hypertension is a primary or contributing cause of death for hundreds of thousands of Americans every year. In a world where it seems increasingly difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle through smart eating and regular exercise, keeping our blood pressure in check sometimes becomes less of a priority. But new research is outlining the benefits of workouts that aren't so intense, which should give hope to many people looking to lower their blood pressure.
A new study published in the JAMA Network Open journal detailed what researchers in China found. The team split a group of 342 adults with prehypertension in one of two groups; one half participated in supervised aerobic exercise like jogging, climbing stairs, brisk walking, and cycling, while the others were trained to practice tai chi. Both groups partook in their respective workouts for four hour-long sessions each week.
After one year, the people in the tai chi group saw more significant drops in their blood pressure than those who stuck to aerobic exercise. On top of that, nearly 22 percent of the tai chi group more or less eliminated their prehypertension and returned their blood pressure to a normal range, while only 16 percent did so in the aerobic group. And only a handful saw their blood pressure rise to develop full-blown hypertension, though less participants from the tai chi group did so.
Related: How yoga can lower blood pressure
Regardless of your workout of choice, the key takeaway should be to keep moving, no matter how fast or how slow your movements may be.
