S Elhani1, T J Cleophas, R Atiqi. 1. Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht, and Hoge School Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lifestyle interventions in the management of hypertension were beneficial in published studies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate (1) which lifestyle recommendations are given by physicians and to what extent the possibility of drug-induced hypertension is addressed; (2) to study the characteristics of the physicians who more often perform lifestyle interventions. METHODS: General practitioners in the area of Dordrecht were asked whether or not they included lifestyle advice in the management of their patients' hypertension. RESULTS: Of the 176 physicians invited, 105 consented to take part. Measures to reduce body weight, stopping smoking, and physical exercise advice were given by 94, 92, and 92% of the physicians, respectively. Advice on psychological relaxation and reducing liquorice (Dutch: drop) intake was only given by 23 and 32%. Rural physicians were more active: they more often recommended quitting smoking (p<0.02), reducing weight (p<0.02), and participating in sporting activities (p<0.02). And so were older physicians: they more often recommended starting low-calorie diets (p<0.05), stopping liquorice consumption (p<0.04) and emphasised drug compliance (p<0.02). Increased blood pressure as a side effect of concomitant medications, other than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and oral contraceptives, was virtually never addressed. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Advice to reduce body weight, stop smoking, and increase physical exercise are the only lifestyle recommendations routinely given, (2) rural physicians and older physicians were more active in giving non-drug treatments, (3) increased blood pressure as a side effect of medications was virtually never addressed. (Neth Heart J 2009;17:9-12.).
BACKGROUND: Lifestyle interventions in the management of hypertension were beneficial in published studies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate (1) which lifestyle recommendations are given by physicians and to what extent the possibility of drug-induced hypertension is addressed; (2) to study the characteristics of the physicians who more often perform lifestyle interventions. METHODS: General practitioners in the area of Dordrecht were asked whether or not they included lifestyle advice in the management of their patients' hypertension. RESULTS: Of the 176 physicians invited, 105 consented to take part. Measures to reduce body weight, stopping smoking, and physical exercise advice were given by 94, 92, and 92% of the physicians, respectively. Advice on psychological relaxation and reducing liquorice (Dutch: drop) intake was only given by 23 and 32%. Rural physicians were more active: they more often recommended quitting smoking (p<0.02), reducing weight (p<0.02), and participating in sporting activities (p<0.02). And so were older physicians: they more often recommended starting low-calorie diets (p<0.05), stopping liquorice consumption (p<0.04) and emphasised drug compliance (p<0.02). Increased blood pressure as a side effect of concomitant medications, other than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and oral contraceptives, was virtually never addressed. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Advice to reduce body weight, stop smoking, and increase physical exercise are the only lifestyle recommendations routinely given, (2) rural physicians and older physicians were more active in giving non-drug treatments, (3) increased blood pressure as a side effect of medications was virtually never addressed. (Neth Heart J 2009;17:9-12.).
Authors: R Cifkova; S Erdine; R Fagard; C Farsang; A M Heagerty; W Kiowski; S Kjeldsen; T Lüscher; J M Mallion; G Mancia; N Poulter; K H Rahn; J L Rodicio; L M Ruilope; P van Zwieten; B Waeber; B Williams; A Zanchetti Journal: J Hypertens Date: 2003-10 Impact factor: 4.844
Authors: L J Appel; T J Moore; E Obarzanek; W M Vollmer; L P Svetkey; F M Sacks; G A Bray; T M Vogt; J A Cutler; M M Windhauser; P H Lin; N Karanja Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1997-04-17 Impact factor: 91.245