Importance of Stress Management for Elderly Patients

In elderly people, SBP generally increases, whereas DBP decreases, leading to increased prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension, defined as an SBP of more than 140 mm Hg and DBP of less than 90 mm Hg. Chobanian and colleagues reported in the May 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association that a reduction in SBP of 5 mm Hg is linked to a 7% decrease in mortality.

Stress management resulting in the RR can effectively treat essential hypertension, as described by Schneider and colleagues in the January 2005 issue of the American Journal of Hypertension.

This double-blind, randomized trial evaluates whether RR vs lifestyle modification results in decreased SBP and successful elimination of an antihypertensive medication.

You can read the entire article by Laurie Barclay, MD by clicking the link : Stress Management, Lifestyle Modification Help Control Systolic BP in Elderly Patients