Nonpharmacologic treatment of hypertension: A multiple-risk-factor approach

Hypertension is one of the leading health problems in the United States. It is commonly accepted that as many as 60 million Americans have hypertension, with the majority (>70%) having mild elevations (diastolic pressure range, 90-104 mm Hg). The treatment of hypertension accounts for more office visits to health care providers and more treatment than any other medical diagnosis. A 1980 National Institutes of Health survey showed that about 2% of visits to health care providers were for the treatment of hypertension. It was also noted that patients with hypertension were more likely (86%) to be treated with medication than were patients with other diseases (63%).