Exercise May Lower Blood Pressure Comparably to Some Medications — What the Evidence Shows

Post-menopausal women often hear they should "stay active" for heart health. A new review of 79 studies offers clearer guidance. The right mix of exercises at the right dose can cut blood pressure by nearly 12 points. That rivals what some drugs achieve.

Combined exercise at moderate doses may match some blood pressure drugs in effect.

Key Findings

Researchers pooled data from 79 randomized trials. These included 3,628 post-menopausal women. They compared exercise types and doses to find what works best for blood pressure.

The most effective approach was combined exercise. This means mixing cardio, strength training, and flexibility work. At about 900 METs-minutes per week (roughly 150–225 minutes of moderate activity), this approach cut systolic blood pressure (the top number) by 11.9 mmHg. It also cut diastolic (the bottom number) by 8.6 mmHg.