Dynamic exercise: which is true about blood pressure?

Dynamic exercise: which is true about blood pressure?

• A. Systolic increases to 140-160 mmHg while diastolic remains the same
• B. Both systolic and diastolic increase significantly
• C. Systolic decreases
• D. Diastolic decreases

Answer: (A)

During dynamic exercise, the heart and blood vessels respond to increased muscle demand by raising the amount of blood pumped (cardiac output) and widening the vessels in active muscles. This causes the pressure during contraction (systolic pressure) to rise, while the pressure during relaxation (diastolic pressure) stays about the same or may even fall slightly due to vasodilation. So systolic blood pressure can increase to around 140–160 mmHg, with diastolic remaining roughly unchanged. The other options imply the diastolic pressure rises significantly, decreases, or that systolic pressure falls, which doesn’t match the typical pattern seen during dynamic exercise.

During dynamic exercise, the heart and blood vessels respond to increased muscle demand by raising the amount of blood pumped (cardiac output) and widening the vessels in active muscles. This causes the pressure during contraction (systolic pressure) to rise, while the pressure during relaxation (diastolic pressure) stays about the same or may even fall slightly due to vasodilation. So systolic blood pressure can increase to around 140–160 mmHg, with diastolic remaining roughly unchanged. The other options imply the diastolic pressure rises significantly, decreases, or that systolic pressure falls, which doesn’t match the typical pattern seen during dynamic exercise.