During exercise, what happens to diastolic blood pressure?

During exercise, diastolic blood pressure typically decreases slightly or remains the same due to the body's physiological adaptations to the demands of physical activity. During exercise, the heart rate increases and the heart pumps more blood with each beat, leading to an increase in systolic blood pressure. However, diastolic blood pressure is more influenced by the resistance of blood vessels.

As muscles contract and more blood is required for their activity, vasodilation occurs within the active muscles, allowing for better blood flow and reduced resistance. This can lead to a slight decrease in diastolic pressure or can cause it to stabilize, as the overall demand for blood flow increases without proportionately raising the pressure in the vessels during the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle.

Understanding this concept is essential for fitness professionals, as it informs the interpretation of cardiovascular responses to exercise and helps in monitoring clients' health during workouts. This knowledge can also guide adaptations in training programs based on individual cardiovascular responses.