The first treatment measure for elderly patients with hypertension is non-pharmacological treatment, especially for patients with hypertension below grade 1, non-pharmacological treatment is an important measure of antihypertensive treatment, non-pharmacological treatment is mainly to correct poor lifestyle habits, including the following aspects: 1. Limit salt intake Salt-sensitive hypertension is common in the elderly, and it is particularly important to limit salt intake. It is recommended that salt intake should be <6g per day, and limiting salt intake can reduce systolic blood pressure by 2-8 mmHg. However, it should be noted that overly strict salt intake restriction can lead to electrolyte disorders, such as hyponatremia and hypokalemia, and should be avoided. 2. Balanced diet Encourage the elderly to consume a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, fish, beans and products, coarse grains, skim milk and other foods rich in potassium, calcium, dietary fiber and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Hypokalemia is common in the elderly, and it is now believed that blood potassium is negatively correlated with blood pressure, which means that if the blood potassium is low, blood pressure is more likely to rise. 3. Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke Tobacco increases the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events and death rates, so you should quit smoking or avoid inhaling secondhand smoke. 4. Limit alcohol consumption Discourage elderly people from drinking alcohol and limit the daily intake of alcohol to <25 g for men and <15 g for women.
Attention should be paid to the effects of alcohol on drug efficacy. The World Health Organization’s new recommendation for alcohol is that the less alcohol, the better. The amount of pure alcohol can be calculated according to the following formula: pure alcohol (g) = amount of alcohol consumed (ml) × alcohol content (%) × 0.8 5. Moderate weight loss Weight loss is beneficial for lowering blood pressure, and it is recommended that the body mass index (BMI) be controlled to within 25 kg/m2.
BMI is calculated as weight (kg)/[height (m)]2. Studies have shown that for every 10 kg of weight loss, blood pressure can drop by 5-20 mmHg.
However, it is important to note that excessive weight loss in the elderly can affect the quality of life and even lead to other diseases due to lower immunity. 6. Adhere to regular aerobic exercise can help reduce blood pressure, according to personal preferences and physical condition to choose easy to adhere to the exercise, such as brisk walking, generally 5 times a week, each time 30-60 min.
According to the study, systolic blood pressure can be reduced by 4-9 mmHg in those who maintain regular exercise. 7. Maintain mental health Avoid mood swings and stress, maintain mental happiness, mental balance and regularity of life, and treat anxiety, depression and other mental disorders.