$3.5M NIH Grant to Support Research on Whether Strength Training Can Lower Women’s Blood Pressure

A $3.5 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health will enable research led by the University of Maryland School of Public Health into whether strength training can reduce hypertension in post-menopausal women. 

“Many women experience a double whammy during midlife with dramatic increases in blood pressure, weakened vascular health and menopausal transition. With this grant, we will investigate if resistance training — things like bench press and squats — can help,” said Associate Professor of kinesiology Sushant Ranadive, the study’s lead investigator.

“This study could provide millions of women a fairly accessible way to prevent hypertensive disorders and their dangerous consequences if our hypothesis proves correct,” said Ranadive. 

Almost half of middle-aged women in the United States live with high blood pressure, a symptom-less condition that can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney problems and dementia. 

The grant will enable a multisite clinical trial, led by UMD with Iowa State University as co-site, over four months with 200 diverse women ages 40-64 who live with hypertension. Ranadive will work with cardiovascular and brain health expert Wesley Lefferts, an associate professor at Iowa State’s Integrated Health Sciences Program.

The study is expected to begin recruitment in November. Participation information will be released soon.