Effects of an 8-Week Aerobic Exercise Program with Different Intensities on Blood Pressure and Metabolic Markers in Middle-Aged Men with Prehypertension

This study investigated the effects of 8 weeks of aerobic exercise at different intensities on blood pressure, lipid metabolism, and cardiorespiratory fitness in middle-aged men. Fifteen participants were randomly assigned to moderate- or high-intensity groups and exercised twice weekly. Repeated measures two-way ANOVA showed significant decreases in systolic blood pressure(p=.005) and triglycerides(p=.001) over time, with moderate intensity improving blood pressure and high intensity reducing triglycerides. No significant changes were found in HDL or Cardiorespiratory fitness. These findings suggest that short-term aerobic exercise can improve some metabolic markers, while changes in HDL and cardiorespiratory fitness may require longer interventions. Future research should involve longer durations, larger samples, and greater exercise intensity to clarify these effects.