In June 1989 The Journal of the American Medical Association said: “Physical activity has been associated with the prevention and control of numerous medical conditions, such as coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension [high blood pressure],

Dr. Norman M. Kaplan, with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, who is an authority on hypertension, says that he has changed his mind on the value of exercise in treating high blood pressure. “As I have seen the evidence accumulate in the last three or four years I have become more encouraging to people about exercise.”

Dr. Kaplan now prescribes aerobic exercise for patients with high blood pressure. “I tell my patients to get their pulse rate up,” he explains. “I tell people to start slowly. Don’t jump into it. Begin with walking and slow running and build up. If you encounter any problems, back off.”