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Introduction. High blood pressure (BP) is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, which accounts for one in every eight deaths worldwide. It has been predicted that, by 2020, there would be 111% increase in cardiovascular deaths in India. Aerobic exercise in the form of brisk walking, jogging, running, and cycling would result in reduction in BP. Many meta-analytical studies from western world confirm this. However, there is no such review from Indian subcontinent. Objective. Our objective is to systematically review and report the articles from India in aerobic exercise on blood pressure. Methodology. Study was done in March 2016 in Google Scholar using search terms “Aerobic exercise” AND “Training” AND “Blood pressure” AND “India.” This search produced 3210 titles. Results. 24 articles were identified for this review based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Total of 1107 subjects participated with median of 25 subjects. Studies vary in duration from +3 weeks to 12 months with each session lasting 15–60 minutes and frequency varies from 3 to 8 times/week. The results suggest that there was mean reduction of −05.00 mmHg in SBP and −03.09 mmHg in DBP after aerobic training. Conclusion. Aerobic training reduces the blood pressure in Indians.

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ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to confirm whether 8 weeks of home‐based isometric handgrip (IHG) training would reduce resting blood pressure (RBP) in an adult Indian population.MethodologyHypertensive patients (Stage 1 [previously prehypertension] and Stage 2 [previously Stage 1 hypertension]) aged 30–45 years, male and female, were included. Intervention: Two groups were included (active control group and IHG training group at 30% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction). Outcomes of this study were resting pulse rate (PR) and RBP, which were taken at baseline and after 8 weeks. Stratified randomization was done by sex and hypertension grade. The study was a double‐blind intervention (both participants and the assessor were blinded to intervention allotment).ResultsForty hypertensive individuals were randomly assigned to a control (N = 20) and an 8‐week home‐based IHG training (N = 20) using a stratified random sampling technique. Each training session consisted of 4 × 2 min bouts with a 4‐min rest between bouts for 8 weeks. Resting PR and RBP were taken at baseline and after 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, there was a significant reduction in blood pressure and PR values in the IHG group as compared with those in the control group: systolic blood pressure (mean difference, MD −8.75 mmHg; 95% CI [−6.51, −10.39]); diastolic blood pressure (MD −8.35 mmHg; 95% CI [−6.25, −10.45]); mean arterial pressure (MD −8.13 mmHg; 95% CI [−6.21, −10.05]); and PR (MD −8.90 mmHg; 95% CI [−5.08, −12.72].ConclusionOn the basis of study findings, home‐based IHG training can be used as an adjunct to control BP in the initial stage of hypertension in an Indian population.

In the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of India, rice (Oryza sativa L.) is taken by conventional tilled puddled transplanted (CT-PTR) method. CT-PTR requires a lot of water (2000-2500 mm) which comes mainly from groundwater. Due to declining water table and changing climate, the sustainability of CT-PTR rice is under immense pressure. The alternative to CT-PTR could be direct seeded rice (DSR) which requires less water, labor, initial cost and energy than CT-PTR. But direct seeded rice is heavily infested with weeds which cause severe loss to the grain yield. Thus, the success of aerobic rice depends on effective and timely weed control. As a single weed control method may not be successful on a long term basis, weed problem in direct seeded rice needs to be solved by integrated approach. Integrating cultural, mechanical and chemical methods along with highly competitive cultivars with effective allelopathic properties, effective weed management on long term sustainable basis can be achieved.