Hypertension Treatment Should Always Include Lifestyle Modification

Hypertension treatment has come a long way in the last few years with the development of multiple new drugs. It is possible to combine two or three different agents for better control of blood pressure. Practitioners are glad to have so many drug treatment options, but a new study shows that all patients may not be encouraged to incorporate lifestyle changes for better blood pressures. Lifestyle modification interventions should be the cornerstone of hypertension treatment, whether patients are on medication or not. University of North Carolina researchers found that most patients recall getting some type of lifestyle modification advice, but the type of advice they received was different depending on factors such as age, body weight and treatment with medication. Those of normal or healthy weight received less dietary advice than those who were obese even though sodium reduction and diet modification is effective for everyone with hypertension. Those patients over sixty years old were given the least lifestyle modification advice of any of the groups. Perhaps practitioners assumed that these patients were unlikely to incorporate diet or exercise modifications into their daily lives. As a rule, I have seen that even minimal exercise of thirty minutes 3 to 5 times a week can significantly reduce blood pressure and may lead to lower doses of medication, even if the patient doesn't experience significant weight loss. The D.A.S.H. (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan was developed based on research sponsored by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. What is the DASH diet? It's a balanced eating plan that can help you lose weight, lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure. For most people eating about 2000 calories a day, the eating plan includes 4 to 5 servings of fruit and 4 to 5 servings of vegetables daily. In addition, three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy products, a small serving of nuts, 7 to 8 servings of whole grains, and 6 ounces of lean meat are included daily. The DASH eating plan contains only 2 to 3 servings of added fat or oil and limited amounts of extra sugars or sweets. Lifestyle modification advice should be given to all patients with hypertension and it's never too late to incorporate better eating and exercise habits. For more information on the D.A.S.H. diet: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/new_dash.pdf