Characteristics of response to isometric exercise in women with stable arterial hypertension

: In 50 females with Stage II persistent hypertension, tetrapolar thoracic rheography was employed to measure cardiac index (CI), stroke index (SI), specific peripheral resistance (SPR), blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) before and during isometric exercise when antihypertensive drugs were withdrawn. The patients with a family history of hypertension were found to have impaired homeostatic mechanisms preventing an excess elevation in BP during isometric exercise. The females of reproductive age showed a greater increase in BP, HR, SI, CI and a lower decrease in SPR in response to the exercise than did menopausal females. Left ventricular hypertrophy contributes to a positive inotropic action shown by sympathetic cardiac stimulation during isometric exercise, as evidenced by a lower reduction or elevation in SI. The detected responses to isometric exercise may serve as criteria for differential approach to the choice of adequate antihypertensive therapy.