title: Clinical inquiries. What lifestyle changes should we recommend for the patient with newly diagnosed hypertension?
abstract: Hypertensive patients should reduce sodium intake (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A). The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet (DASH diet)--with salt restriction and increased fruit, vegetable, calcium, and potassium intake-reduces blood pressure and should be recommended (SOR: A). Aerobic exercise is effective in the general, as well as elderly, populations for reducing blood pressure (SOR: A). Patients should be encouraged to reduce alcohol consumption (SOR: A). Evidence that weight loss is significantly associated with blood pressure reduction is inconclusive (SOR: C). Smoking cessation should be encouraged for all hypertensive patients for prevention of cardiovascular disease (SOR: A).
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, NC, USA.
authors.forename: K Colleen
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Jean C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Blackwell
authors.forename: Linda N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Meurer
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D008019:Life Style