D.Litt. et Phil. / Hypertension amongst older adults is one of the highest indices of prevalence in the general population, both in the United States and in South Africa. Due to this high 'indices in South Africa, it has. a tendency to develop into malignant hypertension, resulting in high indices of morbidity and mortality. Seniors South Africans, mainly Black South Africans (more than elsewhere in the world), face severe indices of morbidity and mortality as a result of uncontrolled, untreated or poorly treated hypertension. For this reason, the HELPS Project (Hypertension, Exercise and Lifestyle Program for Seniors) at San Diego State University was replicated in the South African context to determine wbetherit would show similar differential effects. The initial findings of this study suggest that exercise and physical activity has a significant effect on blood pressure in elderly hypertensives. There was a lowering of blood pressure, as well as reduction in some of the antihypertensive medication. The results indicated that all forms of exercise tend to lower blood pressure in older hypertensives. Very little difference was noted between groups who did only stretching and calisthenics exercise, slow walking, or brisk aerobic walking. This was attributed to a so-called "threshold effect" by the projectleader Dr J. Martin. The results of this study was in keeping with the findings of the HELPS (San Diego) Project. The study proved that both aerobic and anaerobic exercise alike provide elderly people with benefits in both physiological and psychological aspects of functioning. More specifically, where drug therapy may cause health risks and negative side effects, exerciseoften leads to overall benefits and enhances quality of life in the elderly. The overall results of the study was generally upheld and in keeping with the proposed hypotheses
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:3931 |
| Date | 12 February 2014 |
| Creators | Lutchman, Raksha |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Johannesburg |
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