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Wanted: long term studies on massage therapy in hypertension

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 34, pages 741–744 (2020)Cite this article

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Hypertension (HTN) is a leading cause of death and disability globally, with around 875 million patients worldwide estimated to have a systolic blood pressure (SBP) greater than 140 mmHg. It accounted for almost 8 million deaths and 143 million disability adjusted life years in 2015 [1, 2]. Though somewhat controversial, recent changes to the diagnostic criteria and treatment thresholds recommended by some major guidelines can only be expected to dramatically increase the absolute burden of death and disability attributable to HTN [3, 4]. Frustratingly, rates of blood pressure (BP) control among patients known to have hypertension, even in the developed world, remain less than 50% [5]. Indeed, only one-third of patients receiving drug treatment worldwide achieve a BP less than 140/90 mmHg [5], further highlighting the burden of HTN as a major public health hazard.

Though drug therapy remains the mainstay of HTN management, several nonpharmacologic lifestyle modifications have been shown to help delay onset of HTN in those with mildly elevated BP, as well as augmenting effects of drug therapy, and are now well-embedded in treatment guidelines [3, 6]. Among these, dietary sodium restriction, moderation in alcohol consumption, tobacco cessation, and regular physical activity are universally recommended in all patients with hypertension. Indeed, guidelines recommend that these modifications be initiated in all newly diagnosed patients with hypertension before the initiation of antihypertensive medications in those with mildly elevated BP readings, and alongside medical therapy in those with a higher reading.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, St. Luke’s University Hospital, Bethlehem, PA, USA

    Matthew Krinock & Harsh Goel

  2. Department of Cardiology, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Worcester, UK

    Deepak Goyal

  3. Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Harsh Goel

  4. Department of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman

    Sunil K. Nadar

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  1. Matthew Krinock
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  2. Deepak Goyal
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  3. Harsh Goel
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  4. Sunil K. Nadar
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Correspondence to Matthew Krinock or Harsh Goel.

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Krinock, M., Goyal, D., Goel, H. et al. Wanted: long term studies on massage therapy in hypertension. J Hum Hypertens 34, 741–744 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-020-00399-y

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