Effects of walking and relaxation exercises on controlling hypertension

Hypertension is the most important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Which can lead to renal, cardiac and vascular disease, stroke and death. The study was to correlate the effect of walking and relaxation exercise on controlling hypertension. 60 hypertensive patients both males and females aged 30-65years participated in the study and secondary hypertension was excluded. Anti-hypertensive medication history, height, weight, BMI, systolic blood pressure & diastolic blood pressure examinations were taken. Subjects were divided into two groups, control and study group. Subjects in study group were taught relaxation exercises and asked to do regular walking for 6-7 days in a week and in control group no intervention was assigned. Walking & relaxation exercises produced a significant decrease in SBP, DBP with a P value of <0.01. No significant changes were observed in the control group. We concluded that walking and relaxation exercises are effective for decreasing the blood pressure in essential hypertension.