Role of Exercise in Blood Pressure Control Among Hypertensive Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

According to the findings of Motedayen et al.[1] on the “Prevalence of hypertension in renal diseases in Iran,” more than one‑third of kidney disease patients in Iran are hypertensive. With regard to preventive medicine, exercise training is an effective complementary therapy for blood pressure control in hypertensive chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Sedentariness is associated with a decrease in functional capacity and cardiovascular mortality worldwide. Exercise improves heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS); hence, it is an important tool in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Exercise decreases arterial blood pressure, reduces total and low‑density lipoprotein (LDL), increases the level of high‑density lipoprotein (HDL), and improves endothelial function in physically active individuals. Exercise improves autonomic cardiac control by decreasing sympathetic activity and increasing vagal activity and baroreflex control of heart rate. Hypertension is highly prevalent among CKD patients, and exercise training is an effective strategy for controlling blood pressure in hypertensive CKD patients.