Blood Pressure Response to Exercise: What to Expect

During Acute Exercise (Dynamic Phase)

- Systolic (SBP) - Typically increases moderately.

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- Diastolic (DBP) - Decreases.

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Immediately Post-Exercise (1 - 5 minutes) - Recovery Phase

- SBP and DBP - Decrease below resting levels and remain reduced for hours post-exercise, sometimes referred to as "post-exercise hypotension**

Post Blood Pressure Response Variations:

- Responses vary widely between individuals as there are large inter-individual variations for post-exercise hypotension

- Younger individuals show a more prolonged response

- Larger blood pressure drop seen with low resistance (cycling for instance) vs high resistance exercise (weight lifting for instance)