Correlates of psychosocial stress and white blood cell count following exercise training program: A randomized controlled trial on men with essential hyperten sion

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of continuous training program on the correlates of white blood cell count (WBCc) and psychosocial stress in black African (Nigerian) male subjects with essential hypertension.Materials and Methods: Male subjects with diagnosis of essential hypertension attending the hypertensive clinic of Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital (MMSH), Kano, Nigeria form the population for the study. Two hundred and seventeen subjects with stage 1 and 2 [systolic blood pressure (SBP) between 140 and 180 and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between 90 and 109 mmHg) hypertension were age matched and randomly grouped into continuous (112) and control groups (105). The continuous group involved in an 8 weeks continuous training (60-79% HR max) of between 45 and 60 minutes, three times per week, while the controls group remain sedentary. Blood pressure (SBP and DBP), WBCc, VO 2 max and psychosocial status were assessed. Student t test and Pearson correlation test were used in data analysis.Results: The study revealed significant beneficial effect of continuous training programs on VO 2 max, SBP, DBP, WBCc and psychosocial status (P< 0.05). Psychosocial status and WBCc were positively and negatively correlated, respectively, with VO 2 max at P< 0.01.Conclusion: This study supports the recommendations of moderate intensity (continuous) training program as an adjunct multi-therapy in blood pressure, inflammatory, and psychosocial stress management in hypertension.