Table 1.
Magnitude of the reduction in blood pressure in hypertensives following different lifestyle interventions
| Intervention | Details | Reduction in resting BP (mmHg) | Proportion of patients reporting a ≥10 mmHg fall in SBP13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical activity (endurance)10 | Average: 40 minutes per session, 3 × per week at 65% heart rate reserve (>13 MET-hours per week) | SBP: 6.9DBP: 4.9 | 31% |
| Physical activity (resistance)9 | Average: two sets of 10 exercises with 8–25 reps (61% 1 rm). 2–3 days per week for 16.1 weeks | SBP: 3.1 (NS)DBP: 3.1 | Unknown |
| Diet13 | Variable interventions including weight reduction and reduced saturated fats | SBP: 6.0DBP: 4.8 | 40% |
| Relaxation strategies13 | Variable interventions including: stress management, education and physical techniques | SBP: 3.7DBP: 3.5 | 33% |
| Reduction in alcohol consumption13 | Regular advice on restricting alcohol consumption | SBP: 3.7DBP: 3.2 | 30% |
| Reduction in Na+ intake13 | Advised to restrict intake to: 70–100 mmol/day (4.2–6.0 g of salt) | SBP: 3.4DBP: 2.2 | 23% |
| Multiple lifestyle changes13 | Including diet and exercise | SBP: 5.5DBP: 4.5 | 26% |
BP, blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; NS, not significant; SBP, systolic blood pressure