What role does physical activity play in managing hypertension?

Physical activity plays a significant role in managing hypertension by helping to lower blood pressure. Regular exercise strengthens the heart, allowing it to pump blood more efficiently throughout the body. This enhanced efficiency reduces the workload on the heart and helps to improve circulation, ultimately leading to lower blood pressure levels.

Furthermore, engaging in aerobic exercises, such as walking, jogging, cycling, or swimming, can help reduce levels of stress hormones in the body, which may also contribute to lowered blood pressure. Engaging in physical activity can lead to other health benefits, such as improved weight management and better overall cardiovascular health, which can further support blood pressure regulation.

While weight loss can be a beneficial outcome of increased physical activity, physical activity has broader health benefits that extend beyond just weight control, including its direct impact on lowering blood pressure. This is why the assertion that physical activity is only beneficial for weight loss does not encompass the full range of its advantages in hypertension management.