An exaggerated blood pressure (BP) response to maximal exercise is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events and mortality. People with hypertension have an elevated muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) at rest and during exercise, which is in part mediated by the metaboreflex. In people with hypertension, it was unclear if treating resting BP to guideline levels could reduce the activity of the metaboreflex and normalise the rise in BP during exercise. In our studies it was found that individuals with treated and controlled, treated and uncontrolled, and untreated hypertension have an exaggerated BP response to incremental exercise testing (V̇O₂ peak testing) and metaboreflex isolation compared to age matched healthy controls. Heightened metaboreflex sensitivity in these individuals, could in part, be due to impaired functional sympatholysis during exercise. Dietary nitrate intervention lowers resting BP in hypertensive individuals, whilst also improving exercise performance, blood flow and exercise BP in healthy individuals. In our study, despite increased levels of plasma nitrates and nitrites in patients with treated-controlled hypertension, 4 weeks of dietary nitrate supplementation had no impact on the submaximal or maximal BP response to V̇O₂ peak testing or metaboreflex isolation compared to a placebo. This invited talk will examine what is known about the abnormal metaboreflex during exercise in hypertension, potential treatments, and also future directions.