Even Irregular Physical Activity Lowers Blood Pressure, Sugar Levels

An analysis of health data compiled on more than 600,000 Kaiser Permanente members confirms that exercise, even irregularly, can play a major role in lowering blood sugar and blood pressure, and ultimately in improving a patient's cardiovascular health. Patients were categorized as “regularly active” (150 min. a week), “irregularly active” (less than 150 min. a week) or “inactive”. Women who were consistently and even irregularly active had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared with those who were inactive. Men had lower diastolic blood pressure, though there was no link with their systolic blood pressure. Consistently and irregularly active patients (men and women) had fasting glucose levels lower than inactive patients.