Exercise is good for your blood pressure — no matter your age, weight, race or gender. And it really doesn’t matter whether you get exercise from a brisk walk, a fast run or few laps in the pool; the results are equally as good.

That’s the conclusion of a new study published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers conclude that almost any type of aerobic exercise is an effective tool for lowering blood pressure — and that it works for just about everyone.

“Our report is the most comprehensive study in this area… [it] was able to provide an overall effect of exercise on blood pressure reduction across the board,” says study author Dr. Jiang He, associate professor of epidemiology and medicine at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Rather than conduct new clinical trials, He and his group analyzed evidence from many previous trials showing links between aerobic exercise and blood pressure.

While many of these studies concentrated on specific groups — such as white men or overweight blacks — by combining all the results and analyzing them in a new way, He was able to show a multi-varied effect of exercise on blood pressure in all groups.

He also found that all types of aerobic exercise work equally well. These include walking, running, jogging and swimming. Aerobic exercise also works for both those taking medication for high blood pressure and those with normal pressure.

While experts don’t debate He’s findings, some say it’s important to note that the effects of exercise were modest at best, with an average per person drop in blood pressure of just 3-to-4 mm Hg..

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