The importance of a nondrug approach to arterial hypertension in Primary Health Care

Abstract

Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) represents a serious health problem in Brazil, not only for its high prevalence but also for its morbimortality rates. Besides being a disease in itself, it is a classic risk factor for cardiovascular disease and interferes directly with the quality of life of patients and their families. Measures for its prevention and control must thus be implemented. An ideal space for early detection of high blood pressure (BP), prevention and control is Primary Health Care with its Family Health Program. SAH can be approached by promoting changes in the lifestyle and/or through pharmacological therapy with antihypertensive drugs. Treatment adherence is vital for its success and promoting strategies for allowing this to happen should be a goal of the health team. In this work, emphasis will be given to the nondrug treatment of SAH through modifications in the lifestyle. Each approach will be presented and its value will be shown in epidemiological studies.