The Evidence for Lifestyle Modification in Lowering Blood Pressure in the Elderly

Lifestyle modifications are a safe, effective treatment option for hypertension, yet are widely underutilized by clinicians, particularly in the elderly population. This review outlines the nonpharmacologic approaches to the treatment and prevention of hypertension, and discusses their applicability to the elderly population. Accepted recommendations include weight loss, regular exercise, decreased alcohol consumption, and dietary modifications. Each of these changes has been shown to independently reduce blood pressure in elderly individuals, as well as reduce the incidence and severity of comorbid conditions which potentiate cardiovascular risk. The safety of these recommendations equals or exceeds that of pharmacologic therapy, and few contraindications to their implementation exist. A simple, safe, and effective plan appropriate and acceptable to the geriatric patient is described, offering primary care physicians a guideline to follow when prescribing lifestyle modifications to the elderly hypertensive patient. (c) 2000 by CVRR, Inc.