title: Primary prevention of hypertension: clinical and public health advisory from The National High Blood Pressure Education Program.
abstract: The National High Blood Pressure Education Program Coordinating Committee published its first statement on the primary prevention of hypertension in 1993. This article updates the 1993 report, using new and further evidence from the scientific literature. Current recommendations for primary prevention of hypertension involve a population-based approach and an intensive targeted strategy focused on individuals at high risk for hypertension. These 2 strategies are complementary and emphasize 6 approaches with proven efficacy for prevention of hypertension: engage in moderate physical activity; maintain normal body weight; limit alcohol consumption; reduce sodium intake; maintain adequate intake of potassium; and consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products and reduced in saturated and total fat. Applying these approaches to the general population as a component of public health and clinical practice can help prevent blood pressure from increasing and can help decrease elevated blood pressure levels for those with high normal blood pressure or hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, La, USA.
authors.forename: Paul K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Whelton
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Lawrence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Appel
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cutler
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Havas
authors.forename: Theodore A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kotchen
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Roccella
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stout
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vallbona
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Winston
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karimbakas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008019:Life Style; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000592:standards; D011634:Public Health / Q000592:standards; D012306:Risk; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology