E-Mail Reminders Help Reduce Blood Pressure, Hugely

Reducing salt intake, practicing yoga: there are several things you can do to lower high blood pressure. Now comes evidence, from Canadian researchers, that e-counseling–basically receiving an email every two weeks reminding you to stay with the program– can double a desired decrease in blood pressure. Science Daily reports that researchers at the University Health Network, University of Western Ontario and the Ontario Public Health Unit in Grey Bruce evaluated 387 people with high blood pressure ranging in age from 45 to 74, over a four-month period. The subjects were divided into two groups, one of which filled out surveys identifying what they wanted to change about their lifestyle, such as quitting smoking, improving their diet, or being more physically active. That group received eight emails over four months with educational information and motivational messages, while the other group was sent a standard e-newsletter from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, with general tips about how to manage their health. After four months, those who received the encouraging emails recorded approximately double the amount of decrease in blood pressure, compared to subjects who received just the newsletter. Read more in Science Daily.