Influence of hypertension on the hemodynamic response to exercise.

HYPERTENSION is a disorder affecting the normal regulation of blood pressure, and under the stress of exercise there is a greater rise in arterial pressure in hypertensive than in normal subjects.' 3 In this study, the extent of this rise in a large number of hypertensive patients has been investigated to determine whether this response is sufficiently characteristic for this condition to be used as a diagnostic test in doubtful cases. Since hypertension presents an excessive work load on the heart, and most patients lead a normally active life, emphasis has also been placed upon the cardiac response to exercise. Selection of Patients