Scientists from Oregon Health and Science University found that exercising in the evening lowers blood pressure more than in the morning. The researchers will present their work at the American Physiology Summit in Long Beach, California.
23 elderly people with hypertension were included in the study. All had been on prescription blood pressure medications for at least four months. Participants trained three times a week for 10 weeks while riding a stationary bike. One group trained between 7 and 10 in the morning, and the other between 5 and 8 in the evening.
The researchers found that although diastolic blood pressure fell equally in both groups, systolic blood pressure only fell after evening exercise.
“While any type of exercise is always better than no activity at all, people who need to normalize their blood pressure faster and those who don’t see the benefits of exercise can try exercising in the evening,” the scientists said.