title: Nonpharmacologic therapy for hypertension in the elderly.
abstract: Nondrug treatments for hypertension can be classified into three categories: nutrition, exercise, or behavior modification. Of the many nutritional approaches that have been studied, sodium restriction in sodium-sensitive individuals, weight loss in the obese, and limiting alcohol intake in heavy drinkers have all been shown to reduce blood pressure. Other approaches, such as potassium or calcium supplementation, are not as reliable. The data on aerobic exercise as a nondrug treatment are now more convincing, but the efficacy of various behavior modification techniques has yet to be established.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Service, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D011188:Potassium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013695:Temperance; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium