Regular physical activity attenuates the blood pressure response to public speaking and delays the development of hypertension

182 participants aged 18-45 years, including 119 patients screened for stage 1 hypertension (75 sedentary, 44 active) and 63 normotensive controls. Excluded: diabetes mellitus, nephropathy, and cardiovascular disease.

Regular physical activity (performing sports such as running, jogging, cycling, swimming, soccer, tennis at least once a week during the previous 2 months)

Sedentary lifestyle (did not regularly perform sports activity)

Blood pressure response to public speaking (assessed with beat-to-beat noninvasive recording) and incident hypertension (based on clinic or 24-h BP measurement) at median 71 months follow-upsurrogate