Outcomes of Brisk Walking on Systemic Arterial Hypertension in Young Males

Background: Elevated blood pressure, or hypertension, is a main cause of cardiovascular disease and a major global health concern. Prehypertension, a precursor to hypertension, poses increased risks. It can be delayed in young adults with an emphasis on lifestyle modifications, especially physical exercise. Objective: To analyse the outcomes of brisk walking on systemic arterial hypertension in young males. Methodology: A six-month analytical cross-sectional study conducted at Lahore College of Physical Therapy, Lahore Medical and Dental College, involving 133 male participants aged 18-34 years, utilised a sphygmomanometer and a self-structured questionnaire to assess blood pressure and its related risk factors, ensuring ethical approval, informed consent, and rigorous data analysis using SPSS software. Exclusion criteria included active or passive smoking, or having quit smoking within the past six months; a diabetic history with fasting glucose >100mg/dL; and obesity, defined as a body mass index >30 or a waist circumference >40inches for men and >35inches for women. The study prioritized confidentiality, participant well-being, and transparent reporting of methods and findings. Continuous variables were presented as means and standard deviations, while categorical variables were shown as frequencies and percentages. The results were illustrated using graphs and charts. The ethical board of Lahore College of Physical Therapy approved the research. Confidentiality was maintained throughout the study, and informed consent was obtained from all participants. Results: The study, involved 133 male participants from different parks of Lahore, with an age range of 18 to 34 years. Findings show clear differences in the pre and post-values of BP, emphasizing the importance of brisk walking in controlling and managing hypertension and its related risk factors. The pairwise comparison yielded a p-value of 0.00, further confirming the statistical significance of the differences observed between the pre-systolic and post-systolic measurements. Conclusion: This study concluded that an active lifestyle benefits blood pressure and cardiac health in patients with systemic arterial hypertension. The results indicate that brisk walking positively impacts blood pressure control in those with systemic hypertension.