Table 1.

Nonpharmacological interventions for prevention and treatment of hypertension

	Nonpharmacological Intervention	Dose	Approximate Impact on SBP
			Hypertension	Normotension
Weight loss	Weight/body fat	Best goal is ideal body weight but aim for at least a 1-kg reduction in body weight for most adults who are overweight. Expect about 1 mm Hg for every 1-kg reduction in body weight.	−5 mm Hg	−2/3 mm Hg
Healthy diet	DASH dietary pattern	Consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products, with reduced content of saturated and total fat.	−11 mm Hg	−3 mm Hg
Reduced intake of dietary sodium	Dietary sodium	Optimal goal is <1500 mg/d but aim for at least a 1000-mg/d reduction in most adults.	−5/6 mm Hg	−2/3 mm Hg
Enhanced intake of dietary potassium	Dietary potassium	Aim for 3500–5000 mg/d, preferably by consumption of a diet rich in potassium.	−4/5 mm Hg	−2 mm Hg
Physical activity	Aerobic	90–150 min/wk 65%–75% heart rate reserve	−5/8 mm Hg	−2/4 mm Hg
	Dynamic resistance	90–150 min/wk 50%–80% 1 rep maximum 6 exercises, 3 sets/exercise, 10 repetitions/set	−4 mm Hg	−2 mm Hg
	Isometric resistance	4 × 2 min (hand grip), 1 min rest between exercises, 30%–40% maximum voluntary contraction, 3 sessions/wk 8–10 wk	−5 mm Hg	−4 mm Hg
Moderation in alcohol intake	Alcohol consumption	In individuals who drink alcohol, reduce alcohol† to: Men: ≤2 drinks daily Women: ≤1 drink daily	−4 mm Hg	−3 mm Hg

^*Type, dose, and expected impact on BP in adults with a normal BP and with hypertension.

^†In the United States, one “standard” drink contains roughly 14 g of pure alcohol, which is typically found in 12 oz of regular beer (usually about 5% alcohol), 5 oz of wine (usually about 12% alcohol), and 1.5 oz of distilled spirits (usually about 40% alcohol).

Arnnet et al., Circulation 2019⁷⁰