During graded exercise, which statement best characterizes the blood pressure response?

• A. Systolic normal, diastolic normal
• B. Systolic normal, diastolic abnormal
• C. Systolic abnormal, diastolic normal
• D. Systolic abnormal, diastolic abnormal

Answer: (B)

During graded exercise, the heart increases its output to meet the muscles’ greater demand, so systolic blood pressure typically rises with increasing work. Diastolic pressure, on the other hand, usually stays about the same or may fall slightly because working muscles dilate their vessels, reducing overall peripheral resistance. An abnormal diastolic response would be a rise in diastolic blood pressure during exercise, even if systolic pressure remains within normal limits. Therefore, a pattern where the systolic value stays normal while the diastolic value becomes abnormal best fits the described scenario. The other patterns would imply either both pressures changing abnormally or the systolic response being abnormal, which is less consistent with the expected response to graded exercise.