During exercise, cardiac output may increase by more than 170% to meet the body's increased o2 demands. this increase in cardiac output increases blood pressure. but the accompanying increase in arterial pressure is relatively small—only about 40%. what limits this increase in blood pressure so that it doesn't reach dangerously high levels during exercise?

Although cardiac output may increase significantly during exercise, the effect of the increase in blood flow on arterial pressure is ameliorated by arterial vasodilation. Vasodilation causes an increase in arterial diameter, so the potential for an concomitant significant increase in blood pressure when cardiac output is increased significantly during exercise is greatly limited.