HYPERTENSION MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES: COMPARING PHARMACOLOGICAL AND LIFESTYLE INTERVENTIONS

Hypertension is a worldwide health issue that causes significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although drug therapy is the mainline treatment, lifestyle modification has come to be seen as an effective non-pharmacological intervention. The current study contrasts the efficacy, safety, and compliance with pharmacological and lifestyle interventions in the management of primary hypertension. Two hundred persons with Stage 1–2 primary hypertension participated in a twelve-month prospective, parallel-group study. Either the pharmacologic treatment group, which received hypertension drugs as advised by guidelines, or the lifestyle intervention group, which received a structured program that included stress management, weight loss, exercise, and nutritional changes, was allocated at random to the participants. The primary outcomes were decreases in the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Adherence, adverse events, lipid profile, fasting glucose, and body mass index changes were examined via secondary outcomes. 192 participants finished the study. Pharmacologic treatment had a larger decrease in systolic (18.4 mmHg) and diastolic (11.2 mmHg) pressures compared with lifestyle intervention (14.6 mmHg and 9.1 mmHg, respectively; p < 0.05). Lifestyle change improved Body Mass Index BMI, High-Density Lipoprotein HDL cholesterol, and fasting glucose significantly, with no adverse effects reported. Compliance was better in the pharmacologic group (88%) than in the lifestyle group (82%). Subgroup analysis identified younger patients and those with dyslipidemia who benefited more from lifestyle interventions, and older patients who needed pharmacological treatment.  While both therapies can lower blood pressure, lifestyle changes offer additional metabolic benefits without causing negative side effects. The best way to reduce hypertension is to use both techniques together.