If you needed to guess which exercise is best at lowering blood pressure, you may not select tai chi, which calms the mind and improves balance, strength and mood. Known for his flowing movements and deep respiration. But a small randomized trial was published online on February 9, 2024. JAMA Network Open. It found that tai chi was higher than aerobic activity (the sort that works your heart and lungs) at lowering blood pressure. Researchers divided about 340 individuals with hypertension, a precursor to hypertension, into two groups. One group practiced tai chi 4 times per week for an hour. The second group did one hour of aerobic exercise (climbing stairs, jogging, brisk walking, or cycling) 4 times per week. After one yr, systolic blood pressure (the highest number in a measurement) dropped by a mean of seven points for those within the tai chi group, compared with about 4 points within the aerobics group. Researchers speculate that tai chi could have a bonus since it stimulates the body's rest response, which helps lower blood pressure. But don't surrender on aerobic exercise. It remains to be necessary for a lot of facets of health. Just consider Tai Chi as one other helpful tool.
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