Study: Short, intense bursts of exercise beneficial for high blood pressure
Hypertension not a reason to skip movement, says UCI Health cardiologist
IN THE NEWS: A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that for those with high blood pressure, one-minute bursts of vigorous exercise during moderate intensity workouts provide enhanced benefits over moderate exercise alone.
UCI Health cardiologist Dr. Brian Becerra, who was not involved with the research, spoke to Verywell Health about the findings of the research. Too much high-intensity exercise combined with hypertension can damage the blood vessels in the brain, leading to stroke.
That said, Becerra still urges everyone to get physical activity. Even short workouts can benefit the cardiovascular system.
"The first thing to understand about the study is that exercise is good, and people should not use high blood pressure as an excuse not to exercise. What is unique in this study is that it showed that short bouts of vigorous exercise helped reduce risk better than just moderate intensity alone."
Becerra is a board-certified UCI Health cardiologist who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of heart disease. His clinical interests include non-invasive cardiovascular imaging and cardiac disease prevention. He also focuses on sports- and exercise-related cardiovascular care. He is also an assistant professor in the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
As a non-invasive cardiologist with expertise in sports cardiology, he is invested in the unique care of athletic heart disease. He helps to treat all patients, from recreational to elite athletes who are in need of care.
Make an appointment at UCI Health Cardiology Services by calling 714-880-7812.
About UCI Health
UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.