Non drug therapy in Prevention and Control of Hypertension

Non drug therapy in Prevention and Control of HypertensionSalt intakeSodium excretion was significantly related to BP and at least partially, this relation ship is independent of body mass index and ethanol intake

Restrict sodium intake to approximately 6gms of sodium chloride salt or 2.4 gms of sodium per dayReduce salt for cooking by 50%Substitute natural food for processuchased foodNo sprinkling of salt on dining tableAvoid salty snacksUse salt substitute containing potassiumAvoid medications such as antacids

Diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol and higher in fruits and vegetables may be more beneficial for BP and CV risk Other dietary factorspotassiumIncrease sodium excretionDecrease renin-angiotension secretionDecrease sympathetic nervous system activityDirect dilation of renal arteries and arteriolesJNC-VI recommend 90mmol of dietary K daily

caffeineNot associated with increase blood pressureTransient effect increas BP 5-15 MM HG for few hours (2-3 cups of coffee)

calciumNot proven to reduce BPMAGNESIUMThere is some evidence of an association between low dietary magnesium and high blood pressure Not enough evidence of beneficial effect of magnesium supplementation Fish oilThere increase evidence that fish oil benefits BPFish oil increases the HDL2 cholesterol Diet supplementation with relatively high doses (more than 3 gm/day) leads to BP reduction in hypertensive patientAlcohol consumption

Excessive alcohol consumption is an important risk factor for hypertension.

The INTERSALT showed a strong and independent relation with alcohol and rising blood pressure

Activation of renin-angiotensinRise of plasma cholesterolstimulation of sympathetic system obesityClinical studies have shown direct benefit of weight reduction on hypertention

Weight reduction reduces blood pressure

Cigarette smokingSmoking increases blood pressure independently Chain smokers can have sustained rise in blood pressure as shown by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring which is presumably caused regular nicotine infusion Stress reduction and biofeedbackThe role of stress in causing hypertension is still not very clearAvailable result provide insufficient evidence to recommend stress management as a useful strategy for the prevention of hypertension

Cut back on salt. It's no surprise that sodium can raise your blood pressure. If everyone in America cut their salt intake to no more than 1,500 mg a day, 16 million cases of high blood pressure would be prevented every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Current average daily intake for Americans exceeds 3,400mg.)De-stress. A recent review of 107 studies on stress reduction techniques and blood pressure found that Transcendental Meditation, biofeedback, stress management training, and progressive muscle relaxation were all effective in lowering blood pressure.Also, a study presented at the American Society of Hypertension's annual meeting in May 2008 found that listening to relaxing music for 30 minutes a day reduces blood pressure.