According to the Second Brazilian Consensus for the Treatment of Arterial Hypertension (1994), about 14 million Brazilians have high blood pressure, 15% of them being adults and economically active, thus considerably increasing the social cost of disability and absenteeism at work. Pursuant with the fifth report of the Joint National Committee on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (1993), more than 50 million Americans can be labeled as hypertensive, affecting about 18%, of the white adult population, and 35% of the black adult population. Systemic arterial high blood pressure in developed countries is the third highest risk factor for cardiovascular disorders, following dyslipidemia and cigarette smoking. Great emphasis has been given to non-pharmacological measures, such as changes in life habits for the prevention and control of high tension levels, which should be implemented for all hypertensive individuals, even for those under some drug therapy. Among such measures, emphasis goes to the regular practice of physical exercise, a major component for an improved quality of life. This revision article intends to clarify the reader about the trends of thought concerning aerobic physical exercise and its impact on the cardiovascular system and on arterial blood pressure, all related to prescription for cardiovascular rehabilitation of adult hypertensive individuals, such as the finding of an adequate work load.
Systemic arterial hypertension; Aerobic exercise
