Date of Award
2027
Document Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Physician Assistant Studies
Committee Chair
LaDonna Clark
Abstract
Hypertension is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease and preventable deaths in the United States. Pharmacological treatment remains the standard of care despite challenges such as cost, adherence, and side effects. The purpose of this article is to discover the effectiveness of non-pharmacological treatment in comparison to pharmacological treatment for reducing blood pressure in patients with hypertension. PubMed was searched using key terms such as “HTN,” “antihypertensive,” “antihypertensive agents,” “exercise,” “physical activity,” and “running.” Operators and filters were used to narrow results down to 31 where 4 quality articles were selected for review. Non-pharmacological treatment/lifestyle changes produced reductions in blood pressure comparable to pharmacological treatment. However, pharmacological treatment resulted in more patients hitting their target blood pressure as well as decreasing mortality rate. Non-pharmacological treatment is an effective method for reducing blood pressure in patients with hypertension, but should be considered as a primary approach only for patients with mild hypertension or significant barriers to medication. Non-pharmacological treatment doesn’t appear to be a direct replacement to pharmacological treatment in more resistant hypertension but is effective as an adjunct treatment.
Recommended Citation
Butler AJ. Lifestyle Modifications versus Antihypertensive Therapy: Efficacy in Blood Pressure Control among Adults with Hypertension. The PA Department Journal of Medical Science. 2026. https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/pa-department-journal-of-medical-science/83
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