The Effect of Aromatherapy on Post-Exercise Hypotension: A Pilot Study
The global prevalence of hypertension continues to rise, affecting an estimated one billion worldwide. Regular exercise is well recognized as a non-pharmacological approach for individuals with hypertension due to its blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect, largely attributed to repeated exposure to po...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| author | Sieun Park Seung Kyum Kim |
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| description | The global prevalence of hypertension continues to rise, affecting an estimated one billion worldwide. Regular exercise is well recognized as a non-pharmacological approach for individuals with hypertension due to its blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect, largely attributed to repeated exposure to post-exercise hypotension (PEH). Recent evidence also indicates that aromatherapy can contribute to BP reduction, indicating that combining aromatherapy with exercise may enhance the overall BP-lowering effects. Therefore, this pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of aromatherapy on PEH during the recovery phase following exercise. Fourteen healthy young males (22.7 ± 0.7 yrs) participated in this randomized crossover-designed study. All participants completed two exercise sessions per week, each lasting 30 min, at a target heart rate (HR) of 60–65%. The individuals inhaled either aroma oil or water vapor at 5, 35, 65, and 95 min after exercise. The HR, BP, blood lactate level, and arterial stiffness index were measured before and after the exercise. Our findings revealed the following. (1) PEH occurred in both groups. (2) In the aroma group, PEH was augmented compared with the control group, with the maximum reduction in BP being greater in the aroma group. (3) The reduction in arterial stiffness was greater and longer in the aroma group than in the control group. (4) The changes in the lactate levels after exercise did not differ between the groups. Our findings indicate that aromatherapy can amplify PEH, suggesting that its use after exercise may help maximize the positive effects of exercise on BP reduction. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-495e8f8fd35243e091ce59061af718ea |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-495e8f8fd35243e091ce59061af718ea2025-08-20T03:36:35ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011515840710.3390/app15158407The Effect of Aromatherapy on Post-Exercise Hypotension: A Pilot StudySieun Park0Seung Kyum Kim1Department of Sports Science, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Sports Science, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of KoreaThe global prevalence of hypertension continues to rise, affecting an estimated one billion worldwide. Regular exercise is well recognized as a non-pharmacological approach for individuals with hypertension due to its blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect, largely attributed to repeated exposure to post-exercise hypotension (PEH). Recent evidence also indicates that aromatherapy can contribute to BP reduction, indicating that combining aromatherapy with exercise may enhance the overall BP-lowering effects. Therefore, this pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of aromatherapy on PEH during the recovery phase following exercise. Fourteen healthy young males (22.7 ± 0.7 yrs) participated in this randomized crossover-designed study. All participants completed two exercise sessions per week, each lasting 30 min, at a target heart rate (HR) of 60–65%. The individuals inhaled either aroma oil or water vapor at 5, 35, 65, and 95 min after exercise. The HR, BP, blood lactate level, and arterial stiffness index were measured before and after the exercise. Our findings revealed the following. (1) PEH occurred in both groups. (2) In the aroma group, PEH was augmented compared with the control group, with the maximum reduction in BP being greater in the aroma group. (3) The reduction in arterial stiffness was greater and longer in the aroma group than in the control group. (4) The changes in the lactate levels after exercise did not differ between the groups. Our findings indicate that aromatherapy can amplify PEH, suggesting that its use after exercise may help maximize the positive effects of exercise on BP reduction.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8407post-exercise hypotensionexercisearomatherapyvascular stiffness |
| spellingShingle | Sieun Park Seung Kyum Kim The Effect of Aromatherapy on Post-Exercise Hypotension: A Pilot Study Applied Sciences post-exercise hypotension exercise aromatherapy vascular stiffness |
| title | The Effect of Aromatherapy on Post-Exercise Hypotension: A Pilot Study |
| title_full | The Effect of Aromatherapy on Post-Exercise Hypotension: A Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Aromatherapy on Post-Exercise Hypotension: A Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Aromatherapy on Post-Exercise Hypotension: A Pilot Study |
| title_short | The Effect of Aromatherapy on Post-Exercise Hypotension: A Pilot Study |
| title_sort | effect of aromatherapy on post exercise hypotension a pilot study |
| topic | post-exercise hypotension exercise aromatherapy vascular stiffness |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/15/8407 |
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