Those looking to lower their blood pressure may find that stretching is more beneficial than walking. A new study from the University of Saskatchewan has found that stretching is superior to brisk walking for reducing blood pressure.
According to new figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of all American adults have high blood pressure. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and among the top preventable risk factors affecting overall mortality.
Walking has long been suggested by physicians as a way to help reduce blood pressure. However, this new study has found a possibly better way to get the numbers down.
“Everyone thinks that stretching is just about stretching your muscles,” said kinesiology professor Phil Chilibeck a co-author of the study. “But when you stretch your muscles, you’re also stretching all the blood vessels that feed into the muscle, including all the arteries. If you reduce the stiffness in your arteries, there’s less resistance to blood flow,” he said, noting that resistance to blood flow increases blood pressure. Read more…
