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 .
Non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension in primary health care: a 2-year open randomized controlled trial of lifestyle intervention against hypertension in eastern Finland
Objective To assess whether lifestyle counselling is effective in non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension in primary health care . Design Open r and omized controlled trial . Setting Ten municipal primary health care centres in eastern Finl and . Patients Seven hundred and fifteen subjects aged 25–74 years with systolic blood pressure 140–179 mmHg and /or diastolic blood pressure 90–109 mmHg or antihypertensive drug treatment . Interventions Systematic health counselling given by local public health nurses for 2 years . Main outcome measures Blood pressure , lipids and lifestyle data were collected annually . Results Among participants with no antihypertensive drug treatment , the net reductions after 1 year both in systolic blood pressure [ −2.6 mmHg ; 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) , −4.7 to −0.5 mmHg ] and in diastolic blood pressure ( −2.7 mmHg ; 95 % CI , −4.0 to −1.4 mmHg ) were significant in favour of the intervention group . This difference in blood pressure change was maintained during the second year . In participants with antihypertensive drug treatment , no significant difference in blood pressure reduction was seen between the groups during the study . Conclusions A relatively modest , but systematic counselling in primary health care can , at least among untreated hypertensive subjects , produce reductions in blood pressure levels that are modest for the individual , but very important from the public health point of view
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 .