Blood Pressure Changes among Subjects with Normal Blood Pressure or Hypertension

Abstract

The aim of this study was to monitor systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR) and symptoms of effort on climbing between 850 and 2500 m, in a group of 164 subjects aged between 35 and 65. The results were: subjects of all ages with normal tension at the beginning of the tour had moderate increases in systolic blood pressure and heart rate; subjects with moderately high blood pressure showed significant increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but below 160/95 mmHg, 10 minutes after the effort ended. Untreated hypertensive subjects had blood pressure values up to 170 / mm Hg, and those with very high additional cardiovascular risk had SBP average values above 170/100 mmHg. Hypertensive subjects treated with ß-blockers and diuretics and those treated with inhibitors of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE inhibitors) had significant increases in SBP, but there were no significant changes in DBP.