hypertension, there are defined changes in hemodynamic patterns. Borderline/mild hypertensives tend to demonstrate a raised cardiac index and a normal total peripheral resistance index. Chronic moderate/severe hypertensives demonstrate normal cardiac index and raised total peripheral resistance index. Severe hypertension results in left ventricular dilation, subnormal cardiac index, and even higher total peripheral resistance index (Korner, Jennings, Esler, & Broughton, 1987).
Stage I hypertension (systolic pressures ranging from 140 through 159 and diastolic pressures from 90 through 99 mm Hg), need pressure elevation controlled. Patients with lesser diastolic pressure elevations may be treated with lifestyle modifications. This would include control of body weight to within 15 percent of optimal weight, restriction of dietary sodium intake, cessation of smoking, restriction of ethanol intake, and increased exercise (Frohlich, 1995).
Causes and prevention of hypertension include many lifestyle, social, and environmental factors. Weight control is a major cause and prevention of hypertension. Exercise or increased physical activity is found to be inversely correlated with blood pressure (Edwards, 1995). Cottrell (1995) also reports that nonpharmacologic management is the first-line treatment for mild hypertension, although lifestyle interventions may need to be combined with drug therapies. A decrease in body weight has been associated with a decrease in blood pressure; with a weight loss of 4.5 to 9 kg, hypertensive patients can experience a 14 to 16 mm Hg drop in systolic blood pressure.
Guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association state that adults need to accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderately intense physical activity on most days of the week. Evidence demonstrates that physical activity is effective in lowering high blood pressure. Loss of body fat and redis...