Hypertension Many sufferers prefer tablets instead of exercise

What helps with high blood pressure?

When people suffer from high blood pressure, they should be more physically active to counteract the disease. However, researchers have now found that most people with high blood pressure are more likely to take medicines or teas than to do physical activity.

The scientists found in their current research that most people rely on teas and medications for the treatment of high blood pressure, rather than simply more physically. The results of the study were presented at the American Heart Association's Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions 2018.

If high blood pressure is detected early, it can often be successfully eliminated, for example, with a lifestyle change. (Image: stokkete / fotolia.com)

Subjects were interviewed about different treatment options

The physicians wanted to find out in their investigation how people weigh the benefits of treatment options for high blood pressure against their inconvenience occurring. To do this, they asked participants if they had high blood pressure and then inquired about their willingness to choose one of four types of treatments that could increase their life expectancy. The suggested treatments included daily consumption of a cup of tea, exercise, pills, and monthly or biannual injections.

The subjects were ready to take tablets?

The results showed that taking a pill or drinking tea daily was the preferred treatment. However, there were also some participants who were unwilling to intervene, even if it caused them to live a few years longer. 79 percent of respondents said they were willing to take tablets for an additional month. 90 percent of the participants would take tablets for an additional year and 96 percent of the subjects would take the pills if they would live another five years of life.

As many subjects preferred tea?

78 percent of the participants would consume one cup of tea daily for an additional month of life. 91 percent of the subjects would be willing to drink a cup of tea daily if they could live an extra year. 96 percent of the participants would take the tea if they could live for another five years, the experts report.

Participants were ready to do more physical exercise?

But what about the willingness to do more physical activity to live longer? 63 percent of participants would be willing to start physical training if they would get an extra month of life. 84 percent of the subjects would start doing sports for an additional year. As many as 93 percent of respondents would be willing to do regular exercise if they could live an extra five years.

Injections were the least preferred option

The least preferred option was an injection at the interview. 68 percent of respondents would get an injection every six months if they could live one month longer. Eighty-five percent would be given injections for an additional year and 93 percent of the participants would use syringes if they could live five years longer. However, only 51 percent of those involved would be given an injection monthly if they could live an extra month. 74 percent would be sprayed monthly if they could live one year longer. Ninety-eight percent of participants would be given an injection a month if they had an increased life expectancy of five years, say the authors of the study.

People perceive discomfort differently

The results of the study show that people weight the advantages and disadvantages of interventions that can improve cardiovascular health quite differently, explains study author Dr. Erica Spatz from the Yale School of Medicine at New Haven in a press release. Side effects of treatments are known, but other inconveniences or strains can affect a person's willingness to take a lifetime medication or exercise regularly, the expert adds.

Study had over 1,200 subjects

1,284 participants took part in the study. Most respondents were under 45, and half of them were women. Many of the subjects also suffered from high blood pressure. Because cardiovascular disease is more prevalent among the elderly, it may be more different than younger people, which may be considered a limitation of the study. Another limitation is that respondents were not told the true life-prolonging impact of each intervention, the researchers explain.

Recommendations of the American Heart Association

High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for diseases of the heart and blood vessels or cardiovascular diseases. To prevent hypertension, the American Heart Association recommends a healthier lifestyle and regular physical activity. Recommended changes include a healthy diet, limiting alcohol consumption, coping with stress, maintaining a healthy weight and stopping smoking. It is also important to work with a healthcare professional and to take medications correctly, if prescribed, to lower blood pressure, the researchers add. (As)