Lifestyle modifications to lower or control high blood pressure: is advice associated with action? The behavioral risk factor surveillance survey.
Routine lifestyle modification advice for managing high blood pressure (BP) is of questionable effectiveness. Using data from the 2005 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System, we examined whether receipt of advice is associated with reported adoption of lifestyle modifications. We determined proportions of hypertensive adults taking action to change eating habits, reduce salt intake, exercise, or decrease alcohol consumption to control high BP. We then determined associations between reports of advice given and corresponding actions being taken: 70.1% of respondents reported changing eating habits, 78.7% reported reducing salt intake, 67.1% reported exercising, and 57.9% of those who drank alcohol reported decreasing their consumption. Compared with those who did not recall being given advice, hypertensive adults who recalled being given advice were more likely to change their eating habits (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56-1.67), reduce salt (PR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.48-1.58), exercise (PR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.36-1.47), and reduce alcohol consumption (PR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.70-1.87).
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Risk Reduction Behavior
- Risk Factors
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Life Style
- Hypertension
- Humans
- Health Surveys
- Health Behavior
- Female
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Risk Reduction Behavior
- Risk Factors
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Life Style
- Hypertension
- Humans
- Health Surveys
- Health Behavior
- Female