The benefits of exercise for all of us are well known, both in terms of general fitness and cardiovascular health. The National Institute on Aging suggests these safety tips especially for people with high blood pressure:

• Don't hold your breath while exercising, particularly if you're straining. The rule is to exhale during muscle exertion and inhale during relaxation. For example, if you are lifting something, breathe out on the lift, breathe in on the release.
• If you are taking beta blockers, don't use your pulse rate as a way of judging how hard to exercise. That's because these drugs change your natural heart rate.

Related information Lifestyle changes - Exercise - Safety

Source:  National Institute of Aging. AgePage: Exercise: feeling fit for life.