Importance of hypertension prevention

IOM report focuses on lifestyle interventions

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has published a report, A Population-Based Policy and Systems Change Approach to Prevent and Control Hypertension, that identifies priority areas for reducing and controlling hypertension in the
United States. One such recommendation is that the CDC’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP) should focus on behavioural and lifestyle interventions that address well-known hypertension risk factors. These would include working with industry to reduce the amount of sodium in the average American diet, as it is estimated that currently that 87% of US adults consume more sodium than the daily recommendation of 2.3 grammes.

Other recommendations proposed include eating more fruits and vegetables, exercising more, encouraging patients to take medication consistently, and improving providers’ adherence to treatment guidelines for hypertension.

The key to success of these interventions lies in the abilities of national, state, and local health entities to create successful programmes that encourage healthy behaviours.

Source: Institute of Medicine of The National Academies, 22 February 2010.

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