Dietary pattern and blood pressure control in a hypertension outpatient clinic.

Although it is well known that some dietary measures are able to beneficially affect blood pressure (BP) levels, hypertensive patients find it very difficult to definitively change their nutritional habits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects on BP of a return to the habitual diet following a dietary intervention period. Three hundred and seven hypertensive patients (149 females, 158 males) with a mean age of 52+/-12 years were included in the study.

Blood pressure at rest, during 24 h monitoring and in response to sympathetic stimulation in hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome.

Objective: As subjects with metabolic syndrome have an increased sympathetic activity regardless of the presence of arterial hypertension, this study aimed at evaluating in hypertensives whether this condition has repercussions on differences in resting, ambulatory and under sympathetic stimulation blood pressure levels.

Methods: Blood pressure (BP) was measured at rest and in response to isometric exercise and cold pressure test by zero-random sphygmomanometer. Moreover 24 h BP monitoring was performed by using Spacelabs 90207.