Table 2.

Explanatory Models and Corresponding Hypertension Self-Management Behaviors. These Represent the Range of Explanatory Models Described by Patients in Qualitative Interviews as Affecting Hypertension Self-Management Behaviors

Explanatory Model	Hypertension Self-Management Behavior
Cause
Stress as primary cause	Stays calm, avoids stressful situations; takes antidepressant as treatment
Exercise causes increased BP	Avoids exercise to keep BP low
Pain causes increased BP	Managing pain, taking pain medications will control hypertension
Course of Illness
Hypertension comes and goes	Takes medications when BP goes up
BP cannot be controlled	Won’t exercise and forgets medications
Little concern about hypertension – does not affect my life	Avoids going to the doctor; Forgets medications
Own definition of what is considered ‘high’	Only take medication when BP is >190/100 mmHg
Symptoms
I can tell when my BP is high; I get headaches, dizziness when my BP is high	Takes medications only when symptoms occur
I have no symptoms of high blood pressure; therefore it is not a problem	Doesn’t take medications
Eating bacon doesn’t make me feel bad, so it doesn’t affect my BP.	Eats bacon as desired
Treatment
Only exercise can help me control my HBP	Exercises and therefore allows himself to smoke, drink and not take medication.
Garlic and vinegar can help me control my HBP.	Focuses on these remedies, while not taking medications or altering diet or sodium intake