Regular physical activity (PA) is one of the most important factors for the primary prevention of arterial hypertension (AH) and for improving the long-term survival of these patients. In epidemiological studies that assess its health context, PA can be performed both at work and during leisure and recreation, with all modalities being used to study the effects of PA on cardiovascular health. The PA developed to improve health or to obtain performance benefits is considered “exercise”. The exercises are classified as “aerobic” and “resistance”.  The aerobic training reduces the casual blood pressure (BP), also during wakefulness in hypertensive patients and in situations of physical, mental and psychological stress. Studies with muscle strength and power have also shown associations with mortality. The regular and combined practice of aerobic and resistance exercises have been recommended.

Ribeiro Jr. and Fernandes¹ analyze the cumulative effect of different types of PA on the workers’ AH. They studied 1,070 workers from two companies with quite different physical requirements: 624 workers in urban cleaning and 446 in the shoe industry.  The PA was evaluated in different modalities: occupational, domestic and leisure. It was concluded that there was a cumulative effect of the different types of PA in the protection against AH.