NARRATIVE REPORT

HYPERTENSION
Hypertension (HTN) is the 4th leading cause of morbidity according to the
Philippine Health Statistics, DOH 2009. It also is one of the most common medical
disorders associated with an increased incidence of all-cause and cardiovascular
disease (CVD ) mortality. Lifestyle modifications are advocated for the prevention,
treatment and control of HTN with exercise being an integral component. Hypertension
is defined as a resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) >= 140 mm Hg and / or diastolic
blood pressure (DBP) >= 90 mm Hg See table below for blood pressure classification
scheme. Essential hypertension accounts for 90 % of the incidence.
Hypertensive patients should perform a mixture of aerobic (5-7 days/week) and dynamic
resistance (2-3 days/week) exercise. Patients should be encouraged to gradually
progress up to 150 minutes/week total weekly exercise of at least a moderate intensity.
Flexibility training should also be prescribed (2-3 days/week), as well as frequent light-
intensity activity, as a means of active recovery.
Regular physical activity consistently leads to reductions in systolic blood pressure of 2-
7 mmHg, which typically translates into a reduction in cardiovascular disease risk of
~20-30%. Furthermore, greater reductions in blood pressure following exercise training
are often observed in those with higher blood pressure at baseline. Therefore,
individuals of a higher hypertensive status (mild, moderate, severe) stand to benefit the
most from regular physical activity. Exercise remains cornerstone therapy for the
primary prevention, treatment and of HTN Based upon the current evidence the
following exercise prescription is recommended for those with high BP.

CARDIAC DISEASE
Cardiovascular fitness relates to the body’s ability to generate energy and deliver
oxygen to working muscles. It is considered the most important component of physical
fitness and is one of the best indicators of overall health. Aerobic exercises are best for
developing cardiovascular fitness. Aerobic means “with oxygen” and includes
continuous activities that use oxygen. A few examples of aerobic activities are walking,
biking, jogging, and skating. These types of exercises sustain oxygen to the muscles
for an extended period of time.
Aerobic activities strengthen the lungs and heart, and make your working muscles more
efficient at using oxygen. They also increase stroke volume (amount of blood pumped
per heartbeat) and lower your resting heart rate. Increasing stroke volume is very
important because it means your heart does not have to work as hard. A resting heart
rate varies from person to person, however the lower your resting heart rate, the more
efficient your heart is working.
In summary, to improve cardiovascular fitness, a regular aerobic exercise program,
repeated 3–5 times per week for 20–60 minutes and at an intensity of 142–186 BPM
(50%–85% of the maximum heart rate for youth), is ideal.