MUSCLE ACTIVITY LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE

Physical activity or exercise, research has long established, lowers blood pressure both by strengthening the heart and by dilating blood vessels. Regular activity can prevent the development of hypertension, or keep it under control if it does develop. New research has shown that muscle mass is associated with low blood pressure, while body fat is associated with higher blood pressure.

When there is too much body fat, stress creates an excess of sodium in the system, according to research conducted at the Georgia Prevention Institute at the Medical College of Georgia. The increase in sodium raises blood pressure. According to their research, recently published in the "American Journal of Hypertension," a person who has a lower body fat index is less susceptible to this effect. In their study, they stressed young adults by having them play an exciting video game. Afterwards, the stress showed itself in elevated blood pressure. However, those participants who had higher muscle-to-fat ratio evidenced a significantly faster return to normal blood pressure levels than those participants with a greater proportion of body fat.

This result received added confirmation by examining the sodium content in the urine of the participants. Under conditions of increased blood pressure, the body excretes sodium into the urine. Participants with more muscle evidenced more sodium in their urine than did the participants with more fat, showing that the leaner bodies were more efficient in lowering blood pressure.