ABSTRACT
For the treatment of hypertension and other mild forms of cardiovascular disease in physically active individuals, better choices than beta-blockers are available. The calcium channel blockers provide control of blood pressure during exercise without negative impact on heart rate, exercise capacity, or metabolism. Drugs that interact with the angiotensin regulatory system provide good control of blood pressure with few documented negative effects on the heart or exercise metabolism. ACE inhibitors reduce angiotensin II–mediated events and enhance the vasodilatory effects of bradykinin. Angiotensin receptor blockers significantly decrease angiotensin II activity mediated by type 1 receptors, but they lack the effects mediated by bradykinin that are enhanced by the ACE inhibitors. Inhibitors of angiotensin activity do not negatively impact heart rate, oxygen utilization, or metabolism during exercise.
