Abstract
The blood pressure response to physical activities is an essential contributor to ambulatory blood pressure and a risk factor for future cardiovascular disease. Peak exercise blood pressure and the blood pressure elevation from rest to peak exercise are higher in apparently healthy men without a prior history of hypertension than in their female peers. Lifestyle modifications can decrease blood pressure during aerobic and resistance exercise. However, there may be sex differences in the effects of lifestyle modifications on blood pressure responses to exercise. Additionally, the optimal blood pressure interventions probably differ between men and women due to sex differences in lifestyles. In men, hypertension not only increases the risk of cardiovascular disease but also worsens quality of life by contributing to erectile dysfunction. Further studies are warranted to attenuate the exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise in men.