Which mechanism is associated with chronic exercise training that may help reduce resting blood pressure in hypertensive individuals?

In the context of chronic exercise training and its impact on hypertension, the mechanism of reduced heart rate plays a significant role in lowering resting blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure. Regular exercise enhances the efficiency of the cardiovascular system. Through consistent physical activity, the heart adapts by becoming stronger and more efficient, which leads to improved stroke volume—the amount of blood the heart pumps with each beat.

With a more efficient heart, it is able to pump the same amount of blood with fewer beats, resulting in a lower resting heart rate. This reduction in heart rate can help decrease the overall workload on the heart and can contribute to lower blood pressure by reducing the force against the arterial walls. Over time, this adaptive response can help maintain lower blood pressure levels, particularly in hypertensive individuals.

The other mechanisms, while they may influence blood pressure, are not as directly linked to the consistent reduction in resting blood pressure through chronic exercise as heart rate reduction is. For example, increased cardiac output can often lead to higher blood pressure if not counterbalanced by vascular adaptations. Decreased vascular resistance refers to the dilation of blood vessels, which is also a positive adaptation from training, but the immediate impact of regular exercise on resting heart rate is more consistently observed in research. Enhanced