Abstract
In a pilot study, 14 pharmacologically treated hypertensive patients were given training in psychophysical relaxation exercises, reinforced by biofeedback instruments, for six weeks. The patients were asked to practise twice a day and also incorporate the exercises into everyday activities. In spite of their unchanged drug schedule, their mean blood pressure (B.P.) was reduced from 170·6/102·5 to 147·9/89·14 (P = < ·001) while their mean (± S.D.) serum cholesterol level was reduced from 241·6 ± 39·19 to 217·1 ± 38·12 mg/100 ml (P = < ·001). I believe the possibility of one therapy which can reduce two risk factors at the same time should be explored further in a controlled study.
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Selected References
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