Robust statistically significant effects were found for improved diet , aerobic exercise , alcohol and sodium restriction , and fish oil supplements : mean reductions in systolic blood pressure of 5.0 mmHg [ 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) : 3.1 - 7.0 ] , 4.6 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 2.0 - 7.1 ) , 3.8 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 1.4 - 6.1 ) , 3.6 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 2.5 - 4.6 ) and 2.3 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 0.2 - 4.3 ) , respectively , with corresponding reductions in diastolic blood pressure .
Relaxation significantly reduced blood pressure only when compared with non-intervention controls .
We found no robust evidence of any important effect on blood pressure of potassium , magnesium or calcium supplements .
Available evidence does not support relaxation therapies , calcium , magnesium or potassium supplements to reduce blood pressure
PURPOSE To quantify effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for hypertension .
Effects of group relaxation training and thermal biofeedback on blood pressure and related physiological and psychological variables in essential hypertension
One hundred and one patients , 70 experimental and 31 controls , with a diagnosis of essential hypertension , were examined for the effects of group relaxation training and thermal biofeedback on blood pressure and on other psychophysiologic measures : heart rate , forehead muscle tension , finger temperature , depression , anxiety , plasma aldosterone , plasma renin activity , and plasma and urinary cortisol .  Eighty percent of the participants were medicated . Treatment yielded a short-term success rate , defined as a decrease in mean arterial pressure of 5 mm Hg , of 49 % in the experimental group . Other significant short-term changes included a reduction of forehead muscle tension , state anxiety , plasma aldosterone , and increased finger temperature . Follow-up measurements were made approximately 10 months after treatment in 36 patients , 51 % of the treatment completers . Twenty of the 36 were short-term treatment failures , while 16 were treatment succeeders . Thirty-seven percent of the short-term succeeders continued to meet blood pressure criterion at follow-up . In short-term succeeders , continued practice of relaxation may influence long-term maintenance of decreased blood pressure . It is suggested that group relaxation training can be beneficial for short-term and long-term adjunctive treatment of essential hypertension  in selected individuals
Robust statistically significant effects were found for improved diet , aerobic exercise , alcohol and sodium restriction , and fish oil supplements : mean reductions in systolic blood pressure of 5.0 mmHg [ 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) : 3.1 - 7.0 ] , 4.6 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 2.0 - 7.1 ) , 3.8 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 1.4 - 6.1 ) , 3.6 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 2.5 - 4.6 ) and 2.3 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 0.2 - 4.3 ) , respectively , with corresponding reductions in diastolic blood pressure .
Relaxation significantly reduced blood pressure only when compared with non-intervention controls .
We found no robust evidence of any important effect on blood pressure of potassium , magnesium or calcium supplements .
Available evidence does not support relaxation therapies , calcium , magnesium or potassium supplements to reduce blood pressure
PURPOSE To quantify effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for hypertension .