Exercise is as good as medicine for lowering blood pressure, studies say

It's often said that laughter is the best medicine. Now, it seems you can also add a good gym session into the mix

According to two new studies, exercise is as effective as drugs for lowering blood pressure and reducing body fat. The first study was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. For people with high blood pressure, it was found that exercise appeared to be "as equally effective as most medications".

How does high blood pressure affect you?

More than one in four UK adults suffer from high blood pressure. Hypertension (the medical term for high blood pressure) is a serious condition which can increase the likelihood of suffering strokes or a heart attack. Although it's more common in older people, high blood pressure can impact virtually anyone. It can be caused by a number of factors, including obesity, genetic inheritance and a lack of exercise. The NHS recommend working out as a way of combating high blood pressure, and the results of this study certainly support that. In the second piece of research, the focus was more on levels of visceral fat.

What is visceral fat?

Visceral fat is not the kind you can visibly see on the outside of the body - it's within the body, covering internal organs. High visceral fat is potentially hazardous for your health and increases the risks of serious illness. In this research, 17 studies were combined into one general review. While exercise and medication were both effective in reducing visceral fat, those hitting the gym experienced greater fat loss.

What is the best way of losing body fat?

In addition to a regular training programme, altering your diet is a proven method for losing body fat and overcoming obesity. You'll lose weight when you're in a calorie deficit. This can be achieved through a combination of exercise, to burn calories, and diet - to ensure the food and drink you're consuming isn't too high in calories. Read more on when to start realising results from the gym.