Healthy Lifestyle Improves Treatment-Resistant Blood Pressure

A healthy lifestyle, including increased physical activity, reduced weight, and a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, improves treatment-resistant blood pressure, according to a study published online in Circulation. Researchers compared blood pressure and cardiovascular disease biomarkers in 140 participants with treatment-resistant hypertension. Half of the participants received four-months’ worth of lifestyle modification classes on healthy diets, weight management, and exercise while the other group attended a single counseling session. Those in the lifestyle modification classes lowered their systolic blood pressure and other heart disease biomarkers more than those who attended only one counseling session. These results are comparable to clinical findings that utilized antihypertensive medications and suggest diet and lifestyle as effective means for treatment and prevention of hypertension.