Is the non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension neglected?
J Marley, N Davis and M Joy Department of Cardiology, St Peter’s District Hospital, Chertsey, Surrey. Non-pharmacological techniques in the management of hypertension have been shown to be beneficial. This pilot study was set up to examine how often routine advice was given with respect to weight reduction and/or lifestyle adjustments, and whether it was needed. Three-quarters of the 69 patients in the study smoked or were overweight but only half of the smokers recalled advice to stop. One-fifth of the patients were apparently not told to lose weight. Only one-third recalled being told to reduce alcohol intake. Lifestyle counselling and the management of hypertension in this small study appeared to be not completely effective for various reasons. It is likely to be cheaper and more satisfactory than medication alone or as an adjunct and its application deserves further study.
