Non Pharmacologic Therapy and Lifestyle Factors in Hypertension

Abstract

Lifestyle factors are now recognised to be key determinants of both the rise in blood pressure with ageing and the cardiovascular disease associated with essential hypertension. This paper summarises recent evidence for independent or additive effects of different aspects of diet and behavioural factors on blood pressure levels and some related cardiovascular risk factors. The influence of single nutrients, fats, fibre, protein, antioxidants, caffeine, complex dietary patterns, physical activity, alcohol and smoking will be considered against a background of obesity and psychological factors contributing to blood pressure elevation.

Effects of a lifestyle programme on ambulatory blood pressure and drug dosage in treated hypertensive patients: a randomized controlled trial

“…Non-pharmacological measures can decrease blood pressure in clinical trials [1]. Such lifestyle modifications include weight loss, moderation of alcohol intake, sodium restriction, physical activity, increased dietary fish or fish oil, and a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy foods as used in the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) trial [2].…”

Dietary and Lifestyle Factors Associated with Blood Pressure among U.S. Adolescents

“…Weight control not only decreases blood pressure, but also decreases the sensitivity of blood pressure to salt [5] and decreases other cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. In adults, blood pressure is positively associated with intake of sodium [4,6 -8], caffeine [9], and saturated fat [4,7], and negatively associated with intake of potassium [4,6,10,11], calcium [4,11,12], magnesium [4,11,13], protein [4,14,15], fiber [4,16], and unsaturated fat [4,15,17]. Intake of fruits and vegetables is also likely to be protective against elevated blood pressure, as demonstrated by The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) trial [4,7,18].…”

Biological Factors are More Important than Socio-demographic and Psychosocial Conditions in Relation to Hypertension in Middle-aged Women. The Women's Health in the Lund Area (WHILA) Study

“…Previous data on the effect of smoking on blood pressure have shown con icting results, which is further discussed by Beilin et al in a recent review [36], and also by Primatesta et al [37]. Data from these reports suggest that any independent effect of smoking on blood pressure is small, when considering interactions between smoking, alcohol and BMI.…”