Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Cardiovascular medicine
Hypertension: dietary and lifestyle measures in a nutshell
Abstract
Elevated blood pressure is affected by diet and activity and is the most important contributor to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Elevated blood pressure and hypertension are preventable and, if present, can be reduced by lifestyle alterations.
Key Points
- Half of all heart attacks and strokes occur in people who do not meet the guidelines for drug treatment.
- A low plasma potassium level and/or a low potassium dietary intake is associated with a threefold or greater increase in strokes and sudden death.
- Successful implementation of sodium restriction lowers blood pressure to a similar extent as drug monotherapy.
- Dietary advice should be holistic, recommending a reduction in sodium, saturated fats and alcohol consumption, and an increase in potassium and complex carbohydrate consumption. This can be achieved by eating less processed foods and animal fat and more fresh fruit and vegetables and fish.
- No randomised trial has proven at what level lifestyle intervention should start. Common sense suggests that it is safe and worthwhile in all people.
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