How Does Relaxation Training Reduce Blood Pressure in Primary Hypertension?

Abstract

There is now a growing body of evidence showing that training in relaxation techniques can reduce blood pressure in primary hypertension (see, for example, Johnston 1982). The following authors have all reported statistically reliable and clinically relevant reductions in casual blood pressure after some form of relaxation training in patients meeting conventional criteria for primary hypertension (Patel 1975a; Patel and North 1975; Taylor et al. 1977; Bali 1979; Brauer et al. 1979; Seer and Raeburn 1980; McGrady et al. 1981; Patel et al. 1981; Southam et al. 1982; Crowther 1983). Recently Little et al. (1984) reported that not only does relaxation training reduce blood pressure in pregnant hypertensive women, but it also decreases the frequency with which they have to be admitted to a hospital during their pregnancy. Reductions regularly obtained, particularly if patients start with pressures that are at least mildly elevated, can be substantial (see review by Jacobs et al. 1977). For example, Patel typically reports reductions from pre-treatment blood pressure levels of almost 170/100 mmHg to levels of at or below 140/90 mmHg; i. e. the average patient in such studies has well-controlled blood pressure at the end of treatment. The critical components of relaxation training with this group of patients have not been established, but most of the successful treatments include training, usually live, in some form of relaxation technique, regular practice in that technique, and training in the use of relaxation to cope with day-to-day stressors. Such an amalgam of techniques may perhaps be best regarded as a form of combined relaxation training and stress management.