Additional Recommendations
There are other non-pharmacological methods known to reduce blood pressure that you may recommend. You may choose to make additional recommendations for Jim based on what you learned from his responses to questions listed in the earlier section of this unit, "Determining the Most Appropriate Recommendation."
For example, counseling Jim to engage in some fun activities with his son and suggesting ways to keep himself out of power struggles with his son would be important in helping Jim minimize his stress level. Inviting him to regularly self-monitor his blood pressure and stress level may allow him to see the direct relationship of stress and the mind-body connection.
Several dietary changes have been linked to high blood pressure. You can help Jim see the relationship of hypertension, weight and diet by asking him to complete a three-day food record. Scheduling a follow-up appointment to go over this record together with him and perhaps, also his wife present, if she is a primary cook, would be important to motivate changes in home food preparation. Recommending cooking classes through University of Michigan's MHealthy program website, as well as explaining how to read nutritional content labels on products, may be another suggestion to offer.
To review potential life-style factors that influence hypertension and related treatment options, print the physician reference card (PDF) developed by the JNC 7. Not listed in this reference as a treatment option in lowering blood pressure, is evidence for the use of certain supplements and botanicals or vegan diets. You can learn more about the use of these specific interventions by visitingthe University of Wisconsin Integrative Medicine Clinician Module on Non-Pharmaceutical Therapy for Hypertension. (PDF)