title: Biobehavioral approaches to the treatment of essential hypertension.
abstract: Despite recent advances in the medical management of hypertension, chronically elevated blood pressure remains a major health problem in the United States, affecting almost 50 million Americans. It is widely recognized that lifestyle factors contribute to the development and maintenance of elevated blood pressure. This article critically reviews current approaches to the nonpharmacological treatment of high blood pressure and highlights outcome studies of exercise, weight loss and dietary modification, and stress management and relaxation therapies. Methodological issues in the assessment and treatment of hypertension are discussed, along with possible mechanisms by which lifestyle modification may reduce elevated blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. blume003@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Blumenthal
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sherwood
authors.forename: Elizabeth C D
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Gullette
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Georgiades
authors.forename: Damon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tweedy
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D015431:Weight Loss