Non-Drug Therapy for high blood pressure
( Lifestyle Modification)

Q - What is Non-drug therapy for high blood pressure?

A - It is a name given to all the methods of treating high blood pressure without taking drugs.

Q - What options of Non-drug therapy for high blood pressure are available?

A - Several methods have been tried in a bid to treat high blood pressure without using drugs. Some have been successful while some have been unsuccessful. Some are successful in some individuals and un-successful in others. These methods range from stress management to dietary changes, from purported herbal remedies to behavioural modifications. Most of these methods are still being researched.

Some of these methods that have been subjected to research and found to be useful to the general population have been grouped together, and are collectively known as lifestyle modification.

Q - What is Lifestyle modification?

A - Lifestyle modification in the broadest sense refers to all the changes you make to your activities, habits and diets in other to reverse or decrease the severity of a disease.

Q - What is the aim of lifestyle modification in high blood pressure control?

A - The aim is to eliminate the factors that cause high blood pressure and introduce factors that lower blood pressure. Learn more about risk factors and prevention of high blood pressure.

Q - Is Non-drug therapy for high blood pressure effective?

A - Yes, it's been found to be effective in lowering mild cases of high blood pressure and also in preventing pre-hypertension from progressing to hypertension. But in cases with severe hypertension, drugs have to be used.

Q - Is Non-drug therapy for high blood pressure used to treat ALL patients?

A - Yes. It is advocated for use in all patients with high blood pressure. It is able to lower blood pressure in all cases but in people with severe hypertension (Above 160/100 mmHg), it won't be able to bring down the blood pressure to normal without drugs. Your health care team will explain your own treatment requirements.

Q - How does Non-drug therapy for high blood pressure work?

A - Weight Reduction - Aims at attaining the optimal weight in overweight or obese people with hypertension. Obesity is a risk factor for high blood pressure. The methods commonly employed in weight reduction include dieting and exercise

Diet - A diet that is low in salt and fats is advised. Excess salts in your diet make you retain more fluids than you need in your body, and this can increase your blood pressure.

Excess fat is deposited in the walls of your blood vessels and block them, so the heart has to generate a higher pressure to force blood through the blockage. This condition is called atherosclerosis and it contributes to the development of high blood pressure.

There is good fat called high density lipoprotein (HDL) and bad fat called low density lipoprotein (LDL). The cause of the problem is the bad fat. Ask your doctor to recommend locally available foods you can eat and those you can't.

Exercise - Exercise is a vital component of non-drug therapy for high blood pressure. It helps to burn the excess fats we have in the body and by this, leads to weight loss. It is particularly important in people with obesity who need to lose weight to stay healthy.

Increasing physical activity, walking and gardening can be as effective as going to the gym. Ask your doctor which is best for you.

Changing Habits - It's advised that smoking should be stopped while alcohol intake should be reduced or stopped. The less of alcohol you take, the better your chances of controlling high blood pressure.

Also, smoking cigarettes and cigars encourage the development of complications in people with high blood pressure. Stopping smoking is considered the single most important factor that increases the chances of a successful high blood pressure control and prevention of complications

Stress Reduction - Stress reduction is an important part of non-drug therapy for high blood pressure. Stress is one of the risk factors for the development of high blood pressure. Any means of reducing stress will be beneficial in lowering the blood pressure. Many people employ different relaxation methods which include avoiding stressful situations, taking vacations, regular afternoon naps, meditation, and seeking professional help.

Q - Is Non-drug therapy for high blood pressure always successful?

A - Success depends on the motivation of the individual, the measure of change needed, and the biological differences that exist among humans. Simply put:

• A highly motivated person will record more success.
• The fewer the changes needed, the greater the chance of success.
• Different people respond differently to different treatments. The level of success seen in one person will not be the same in another, even if they do the same thing.

Q - For how long will I have to abide by the changes I've made?

A - It is important to know that the changes made will have to be continued throughout your life time. To get long lasting results, it is usually recommended that you make small changes at any given time. When you get used to them, you can make additional small changes. People who make small changes have been found to comply better in the long run than those who made big changes. They have also been found to record better results because of their consistency. Unlike those who make drastic changes, are unable to keep up with the demands, and stop trying all together.

Q - Where can I get more information?

A -

1. Discuss with your Doctor or health care provider.
2. You can augment with information from any of these websites that may contain information about Non-drug therapy for high blood pressure.

Published - June, 2006

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