Many studies have shown that exercise can lower blood pressure, but researchers at Tulane University wanted to find out how much it could lower BP. They analyzed 54 different published studies on exercise in which more than 2400 adults agreed to exercise regularly for at least two weeks. Exercises that improve the body's use of oxygen (aerobic exercise) such as jogging, swimming and cycling were the ones studied.

The research showed that people who had been inactive could reduce their systolic BP (the upper number in the equation) by 3.84 mmHg and their diastolic BP by 2.58 mmHg. Exercise lowered BP in all groups of people, including those who had hypertension or normal BP, were obese or of normal weight, and were black, white or Asian.

Related information Lifestyle changes - Exercise

Source:  Whelton SP, Chin A, Xin X, et al. Effect of aerobic exercise on blood pressure; a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials. Annals of Internal Medicine. April 2, 2002;136:493-503.