During exercise, how do systolic and diastolic blood pressure typically change, and why?

During exercise, how do systolic and diastolic blood pressure typically change, and why?

• A. BP decreases during exercise
• B. Systolic BP rises with increasing exercise intensity due to greater cardiac output; diastolic BP may stay the same or decrease slightly due to vasodilation in active muscles
• C. Both systolic and diastolic BP rise with exercise
• D. Systolic BP rises while diastolic BP also rises substantially

Answer: (B)

During exercise, the body increases cardiac output to deliver more oxygen to working muscles. This boosts the pressure generated in the arteries with each heartbeat, so systolic blood pressure rises as exercise intensity increases. At the same time, blood vessels in active muscles dilate to allow more blood flow, which lowers or keeps the resistance in the systemic circulation from rising. That vasodilation helps keep diastolic pressure from climbing and often causes it to stay the same or decrease slightly, even as the heart is pumping more vigorously. So you typically see a fall or little change in diastolic pressure, with a clear rise in systolic pressure as effort increases.

During exercise, the body increases cardiac output to deliver more oxygen to working muscles. This boosts the pressure generated in the arteries with each heartbeat, so systolic blood pressure rises as exercise intensity increases. At the same time, blood vessels in active muscles dilate to allow more blood flow, which lowers or keeps the resistance in the systemic circulation from rising. That vasodilation helps keep diastolic pressure from climbing and often causes it to stay the same or decrease slightly, even as the heart is pumping more vigorously. So you typically see a fall or little change in diastolic pressure, with a clear rise in systolic pressure as effort increases.