Does Exercise Lower Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure (hypertension) affects nearly half of all adults and is a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. This article explains how exercise can lower blood pressure, which types of physical activity are most effective, and why regular movement is a proven, drug-free approach for managing blood pressure.

This article is from the Exercise & Lifestyle sections of our Library.

If you've been told your blood pressure is creeping up, or you've been diagnosed with hypertension, you've probably heard that exercise can help. But does it actually work? Is it worth the effort? And what types of exercise are most effective?

The research provides pretty clear (and encouraging) answers. Regular physical activity is one of the most reliable ways to lower blood pressure, with benefits that often rival those of prescription medications [1]. Most types of exercise work for most types of people.

For your average adult, taking part in regular, plain old aerobic exercise typically knocks 3 to 4 mmHg off your systolic blood pressure (“the top number”) and 2 to 3 mmHg off your diastolic pressure (“the bottom number”).

While these numbers might sound low, they're still clinically meaningful. Even a few points off your blood pressure can lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular issues.

The benefits become even more impressive for people who have high blood pressure already, where structured exercise programs can reduce systolic blood pressure by 7 to 11 mmHg and diastolic by 4 to 5 mmHg. These are substantial drops that can move someone out of the “hypertensive” range.

What Exercise Lowers Blood Pressure the Most?

One of the most practical findings from the research is that you don't need to stick to just one type of exercise. Several types of exercise can lower blood pressure, allowing you the flexibility to choose activities you enjoy and will stick with.

Aerobic Exercise

Traditional aerobic (or “cardio”) physical activity, like walking, jogging, cycling, and swimming are the most well studied. They consistently lower both resting and “ambulatory” blood pressure (the readings taken throughout your day as you go about normal activities).

The beauty of aerobic exercise is that it’s (relatively easy to do — you can start with simple walking and gradually build up intensity and duration as your fitness improves.

Resistance Training

Resistance exercise using weights or resistance machines can lower blood pressure as well. It can work as a stand-alone intervention, meaning you can use it to reduce your blood pressure if traditional cardio isn't your thing.

Isometric Exercise

Isometric exercises: activities where you hold a static position without moving, have some of the largest blood pressure drops [2]. Think wall sits, hangs, holds, planks, or handgrip exercises. These produce reductions averaging 11 mmHg for systolic pressure and 6 mmHg for diastolic pressure.

The appeal of isometric exercise is its efficiency. You can achieve significant benefits with relatively short sessions, making this approach particularly attractive for people with limited time. A few minutes of wall sits or handgrip exercises several times per week can meaningfully lower your blood pressure.

Combined Training

Programs that mix aerobic and resistance exercise also lower blood pressure. This combination approach may be ideal for overall cardiovascular health, as it provides the benefits of both training types while adding variety to keep workouts interesting.

How Exercise Compares to Medication

One of the most striking findings is how exercise stacks up against drugs. Research directly comparing the two suggests that in people with hypertension, regular structured exercise yields similar reductions in blood pressure compared to many first-line anti-hypertensive medications [3].

This doesn't mean abandoning prescribed blood pressure medications in favour of exercise. But it does go to show that exercise is a legitimate, powerful tool to manage blood pressure — not just a minor add-on to the “real” treatments.

For some people with borderline hypertension (sometimes called “pre-hypertension”) or those who prefer to avoid medication when possible, exercise may help. For others already on medication, adding regular exercise can enhance the effects of their drugs, potentially allowing for less medication (under professional guidance, of course).

Immediate and Long-Term Benefits

The great thing about exercise is that the benefits can be seen after your very first session. Exercise triggers an immediate reduction in blood pressure (“post-exercise hypotension”), which can last for up to a day after you stop exercising, giving you immediate benefits.

However, the more powerful and lasting effects come after training consistently for weeks or months. This is where your blood pressure stays lower around the clock, not just temporarily after exercising.

How Exercise Lowers Blood Pressure

Scientists have identified several ways exercise reduces blood pressure, helping us refine recommendations. The main way exercise lowers your blood pressure is by relaxing your blood vessels and making them more flexible, which allows your blood to flow better. It also decreases the activity of your“fight or flight” system, which by itself increases blood pressure.

Practical Recommendations

Start with aerobic exercise. Walking, cycling, or swimming 3 or more times per week for 30 to 45 minutes at moderate intensity is a proven approach. Moderate intensity means you're breathing harder but can still hold a conversation.

Consider adding resistance training. Two to three resistance training sessions per week with weights or resistance bands provide additional blood pressure benefits (plus many other health benefits).

Try isometric exercise if you’re short on time. Doing wall sits, hangs, holds, planks, or handgrip exercises several times weekly can produce substantial decreases in blood pressure with minimal time.

Combining types of exercise can prevent boredom and work different muscle groups, which may provide complementary cardiovascular benefits.

Stay consistent. The blood pressure benefits of exercise require ongoing activity. When you stop exercising regularly, blood pressure tends to creep back up. Think of exercise as an ongoing prescription rather than a short-term fix.

Important Considerations

While exercise is beneficial and (comparatively) safe, if you’re hypertensive or have other cardiovascular conditions, consulting a healthcare specialist will ensure doing the correct activities and intensity for your specific conditions.

Some people also have difficulty regulating their blood pressure in and around exercise, leading to dizziness or lightheadedness. So warm-up, cool down, adequate hydration, along with professional supervision, may be needed for some.

The Bottom Line

The evidence is clear and consistent: regular physical activity reliably and meaningfully reduces blood pressure. Moderate-intensity cardio, resistance training, or isometrics, performed consistently, all reduce blood pressure, lower your cardiovascular events and disease risk.

Your blood vessels will thank you.

Sources

1. Edwards JJ et al. Exercise training and resting blood pressure: a large-scale pairwise and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Br J Sports Med. 2023 Oct;57(20):1317-1326. PMID: 37491419.

2. Cornelissen VA, Smart NA. Exercise training for blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Heart Assoc. 2013 Feb 1;2(1):e004473. PMID: 23525435

3. Naci H et al. How does exercise treatment compare with antihypertensive medications? A network meta-analysis of 391 randomised controlled trials assessing exercise and medication effects on systolic blood pressure. Br J Sports Med. 2019 Jul;53(14):859-869. PMID: 30563873.