Moving your body makes blood vessels release more nitric oxide, which helps them relax and lowers blood pressure for hours after exercise.

“Physical activity is one of the most powerful blood pressure interventions we have. And the reason might surprise you. It's all about that nitric oxide. Again, when you exercise, particularly aerobic exercise, you create what's called a sheer stress on your blood vessel walls. This stimulates endothelium. That's the inner lining of your blood vessels to produce more nitric oxide. Now, here's where it gets really interesting. That effect doesn't just stop when you finish exercising. It lasts for hours after the session ends, which is precisely why regular movement creates sustained pressure reduction. And notice that I'm not talking about burning calories here or even losing weight, although those certainly help. What I'm talking about is turning your endothelium into a more active drug factory for vascular relaxation.”