Results. After 16 weeks, mean (SD) diastolic blood
pressure had decreased from 887 to 838 mm Hg in
the patients who exercised, whereas it had increased
slightly, from 886 to 907 mm Hg, in those who did
not exercise (P0.002). Diastolic blood pressure remained
significantly lower after 32 weeks of exercise,
even with substantial reductions in the dose of antihypertensive
medication. In addition, the thickness of
the interventricular septum (P0.03), the left ventricular
mass (P0.02), and the left-ventricular mass index
(P0.04) had decreased significantly after 16 weeks in
the patients who exercised, whereas there was no significant
change in the nonexercisers.
Conclusions. Regular exercise reduced blood pressure
and left ventricular hypertrophy in African-American
men with severe hypertension. (N Engl J Med 1995;333:
1462-7.)
From th