title: Non-pharmacological methods reduce drug use in the treatment of hypertension. A two-year trial in general practice.
abstract: In a primary-care based study, 122 patients who were taking antihypertensive drugs took part in a two-year trial that aimed at establishing the feasibility of non-pharmacological methods in the treatment of hypertension in general practice. The patients could choose from among 14 non-pharmacological methods of blood pressure reduction. Increased physical exercise; weight reduction, low-sodium and low-fat diet, relaxation training, and home-monitoring of blood pressure were the most popular methods. The use of anti-hypertensive drugs was reduced by 55% in the participants, with the defined daily dose (DDD) being lowered from 1.18 to 0.55 (P less than 0.001). At the end of the study, 46% of the participants were free from anti-hypertensive drugs. Significant reductions occurred in body mass index (27.1 to 26.4 kg/m2, P = 0.001) and serum cholesterol (6.89 to 6.48 mmol/l, P less than 0.001). According to some measures used, the study group's experience of "quality of life" was not reduced.
authors.affiliation: Bergnäsets Health Care Centre, Luleå, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000178:diet therapy; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012648:Self Care; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats