The role of lifestyle management in the overall treatment plan for prevention and management of hypertension.

Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular risk factor in the U.S. population, and hypertensive nephrosclerosis is a common cause of progressive renal disease. Dietary and lifestyle modifications have shown promise in enhancing the effectiveness of blood pressure (BP) management. The Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNCVI) includes recommendations for prevention and management of hypertension. Recommendations include reducing sodium intake, increasing potassium, calcium, and magnesium intake, controlling obesity, and avoiding heavy alcohol intake, along with aggressive BP control. JNCVI guidelines provide a reasonable approach to lifestyle interventions, the benefits of which would outweigh the antihypertensive effects. The data suggest that such guidelines would benefit normotensive people as well. Copyright 2002 by W.B. Saunders Company