Relaxation therapy as an adjunct treatment for essential hypertension

Essential hypertension is one of the leading problems seen by a family physician, and it is not easily treated. In some instances, a behavioral therapy may serve as a useful adjunct to the pharmacological treatment of this disease. Evidence indicates that relaxation therapy in combination with medical treatment results in significantly greater reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure than the use of medical treatment alone. Progressive muscle relaxation, Benson's "relaxation response," hypnosis, and blood pressure biofeedback are the four most common behavioral treatments for essential hypertension. The first two of these are both effective and well suited to use in a family practice.