Exercising while young has a beneficial effect on blood pressure. Nearly 4000 men and women, aged between 18 and 30 at baseline, were tracked for 15 years. Participants were examined at baseline, and at 2,5,7,10 and 15 years later; blood pressure and physical activity were recorded each time.
Overall, 634 participants developed high blood pressure during the 15 year study. Those who exercised an average of five times per week and who burned 300 calories per exercise session, were 17% less likely to develop hypertension.
(Physical Activity in Young Adults & Incident Hypertension over 15 Years of Follow-Up: the CARDIA Study. American Journal of Public Health, April 2007.)