ABSTRACT
Hypertension affects 50% of the US population, and the cornerstone therapy is lifestyle management. Hypertension is a well-established major risk factor for cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Primary or essential hypertension, the most common type of hypertension in the United States has no specific known underlying cause, while secondary hypertension results from medical conditions such as chronic kidney disease, renal artery stenosis, or adrenal tumors. In meta-analyses, healthier diets have been found to be associated with a decreased likelihood of developing hypertension. The association of obesity and hypertension had been well established by both observational studies and clinical trials. Complementary therapies are also proposed to have a role in the management of hypertension through lifestyle modification. Observational studies also have reported an inverse association between leisure time physical activity, physical fitness, and development and severity of hypertension even after adjusting for other risk factors.
