During acute aerobic exercise, which of the following is a typical change in systolic blood pressure?

During acute aerobic exercise, which of the following is a typical change in systolic blood pressure?

• A. It increases
• B. It decreases
• C. It remains unchanged
• D. It fluctuates without pattern

Answer: (A)

During acute aerobic exercise, the body’s demand for oxygen increases, and the heart responds by boosting cardiac output. Heart rate rises and more blood is pumped with each beat (higher stroke volume), and the force of contraction increases. This heightened cardiac output raises the pressure generated when the heart ejects blood, so systolic blood pressure goes up. Meanwhile, the vessels in working muscles dilate to allow more blood flow, which lowers or limits the rise in peripheral resistance, so diastolic pressure tends to stay the same or even fall slightly. The net effect is a noticeable increase in systolic pressure with little to no sustained increase in diastolic pressure, matching the typical response to aerobic exercise.

During acute aerobic exercise, the body’s demand for oxygen increases, and the heart responds by boosting cardiac output. Heart rate rises and more blood is pumped with each beat (higher stroke volume), and the force of contraction increases. This heightened cardiac output raises the pressure generated when the heart ejects blood, so systolic blood pressure goes up. Meanwhile, the vessels in working muscles dilate to allow more blood flow, which lowers or limits the rise in peripheral resistance, so diastolic pressure tends to stay the same or even fall slightly. The net effect is a noticeable increase in systolic pressure with little to no sustained increase in diastolic pressure, matching the typical response to aerobic exercise.