Hypertension is a major health problem. Elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels are associated with a higher risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD), congestive heart failure, stroke and kidney failure. There is a onefold increase in developing these diseases when blood pressure is 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) (Bouchard & Despres 1995). In many cases, clients can reduce elevated blood pressure by decreasing weight and lowering alcohol and salt intake in their diet. PFTs and fitness instructors can also pass along the good word to clients that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (40%–50% of VO2max), performed 3–5 times per week for 30–60 minutes per session, appears to be effective in reducing blood pressure (when elevated). The evidence that higher-intensity exercise is more or less effective in managing hypertension is at present inconsistent, owing to insufficient data. In a recent meta-analysis of 54 clinical aerobic exercise intervention trials, findings (in hypertensive men and women) included a reduction, on average, of 3.84 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure and 2.58 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure (Whelton et al. 2002). Although routine aerobic exercise usually will not affect the blood pressure of normotensive individuals, habitual aerobic exercise may be protective against the increase in blood pressure commonly seen with increasing age