Alexander, S., Ostfeld, R. J., Allen, K., & Williams, K. A. (2017). A plant-based diet and hypertension. Journal of Geriatric Cardiology: JGC, 14(5), 327–330. Web.
This article focuses on the role of a plant-based diet in the process of lowering blood pressure. It looks at the nutrition of habitual vegans, lacto-ovo vegetarians, and non-vegetarians. Alexander et al.’s main aim with this article is to demonstrate the significance of continued healthy nutrition that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and oils. The researchers highlight that a plant-based diet should be an essential part of the life of people suffering from hypertension, as this kind of nutrition leads to improved vasodilation, decreased blood viscosity, and modification of the gut microbiota. Consequently, the article provides useful background information about hypertension, its impact on the well-being of individuals, and the most effective ways to address this problem.
Aronow W. S. (2017). Lifestyle measures for treating hypertension. Archives of Medical Science: AMS, 13(5), 1241–1243. Web.
This source provides information regarding the best lifestyle measures that can be used to treat hypertension and its complications. According to researchers, in order to reduce cardiovascular events and mortality caused by high blood pressure, it is important to consider a mix of different interventions. For instance, weight reduction, smoking cessation, consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, as well as avoidance of drugs and excessive alcohol intake, should become priority lifestyle measures of people suffering from hypertension. This conclusion is based on the analysis of numerous evidence-based research studies conducted by scientists from different parts of the world. At the same time, it is highlighted that physical activity also plays an important role in reducing blood pressure.
Bai, G., Zhang, J., Zhao, C., Wang, Y., Qi, Y., & Zhang, B. (2016). Adherence to a healthy lifestyle and a DASH-style diet and risk of hypertension in Chinese individuals. Hypertension Research, 40(2), 196-202. Web.
This population-based prospective cohort study examines the effect of hypertension on the health status of Chinese and the most effective interventions that can be implemented to address this problem. Researchers state that the majority of cases of hypertension among both men and women could have been prevented if basic recommendations were considered. In fact, it is tremendously essential to pay attention to adherence to a low-risk diet and healthy lifestyle factors. As a result, the mix of these interventions is predicted to prevent 38% of new hypertension cases among females and 43% of new hypertension cases among males. Considering the prevalence of hypertension cases among Chinese adults, the suggested interventions are extremely relevant at the time.
Banerjee, T., Crews, D., Tuot, D., Pavkov, M., Burrows, N., Stack, A., Saran, R., Bragg-Gresham, J., & Powe, N.R.. (2019). Poor accordance to a DASH dietary pattern is associated with higher risk of ESRD among adults with moderate chronic kidney disease and hypertension. Kidney International, 95(6), 1433-1442. Web.
The main aim of this article was to determine whether adherence to a DASH diet is associated with lower risks of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In order to answer this question, researchers used a 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire. The results of this experiment demonstrate that people should follow the principles of the standard DASH diet to reduce the chances of facing ESRD in the future. Moreover, patients should take into consideration a lower sodium version of the diet. Research findings demonstrate that eating no more than 1,500 mg of sodium per day is expected to result in a considerable decrease in the risk of heart disease, hypertension, and ESRD.
Bricarello, L., de Moura Souza, A., de Almeida Alves, M., Retondario, A., Fernandes, R., & Santos de Moraes Trindade. (2020). Association between DASH diet (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) and hypertension in adolescents: A cross-sectional school-based study. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 36(2), 69-75. Web.
Even though the DASH diet is widely known as one of the most effective interventions to lower blood pressure among adults, there is no evidence-based information regarding its effect on the health of adolescents. Therefore, in order to identify the association between this age group and dietary interventions, researchers conducted a cross-sectional study based on the use of logistic regression models. When it comes to results, no association was found between this dietary pattern and arterial hypertension. Considering that this article has a variety of strengths, such as a large sample, national representativity, and school-based population, its findings can be considered accurate and relevant.
Bricarello, L., Poltronieri, F., Fernandes, R., Retondario, A., de Moraes Trindade, E., & de Vasconcelos, F. (2018). Effects of the dietary approach to stop hypertension (DASH) diet on blood pressure, overweight and obesity in adolescents: A systematic review. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 28(3), 1-11. Web.
This article is intended to determine the connection between the DASH diet and obesity combined with high blood pressure. This systematic review was based on the use of five databases with 2416 population-based studies. As a result of a comprehensive assessment of the evidence-based literature, researchers conclude that the DASH diet undoubtedly has a positive effect on the body mass of children and adolescents. However, in order to significantly decrease the chances of facing obesity and hypertension in adolescence, it is essential to combine the DASH diet with physical activity, as well as avoidance of drugs and excessive alcohol intake.
Challa, H., Ameer, M., & Uppaluri., K. (2020). DASH diet to stop hypertension. Europe PMC. Web.
Considering that the last several decades are characterized by a considerable increase in the number of various health issues, researchers aim to identify whether the DASH diet can be used as a part of treatment strategies. For instance, approximately one-third of all Americans are hypertensive currently. Therefore, clinicians need to understand if a diet based on the consumption of fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates, low-fat dairy products, and nuts is effective for lowering blood pressure. Analysis of the existing literature demonstrates that this kind of diet not only reduces hypertension but also lowers blood glucose levels, triglycerides, LDL-C, and insulin resistance. Thus, the DASH diet can be perceived as an effective heart-healthy eating pattern that helps prevent and treat hypertension and multiple other health issues.
Couch, S., Saelens, B., Khoury, P., Dart, K., Hinn, K., & Mitsnefes, M. (2021). Dietary approaches to stop hypertension dietary intervention improves blood pressure and vascular health in youth with elevated blood pressure. Hypertension, 77(1), 241-251. Web.
In order to promote cardiovascular health into adulthood, healthcare providers usually recommend a mix of lifestyle approaches that require patients to improve their nutrition habits and physical activity. In turn, this randomized control trial aims to assess the effect of a 6-month DASH-focused behavioral nutrition intervention on the health status of adolescents. When it comes to the long-term effects of this dietary intervention, it is essential to highlight weight loss and decreased risk of facing cancer.
Dash, S., Delibasic, V., Alsaeed, S., Ward, M., Jefferson, K., Manca, D., & Arcand, J. (2020). Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to physician-delivered dietary advice for patients with hypertension. Journal of Community Health, 45(5), 1067-1072. Web.
As a key health behavior recommendation, dietary interventions play an important role in the process of lowering high blood pressure. However, many physicians ignore dietary advice during communication with their patients. Consequently, this article is based on the idea to identify the main barriers stopping Canadian healthcare providers from discussing dietary approaches with people suffering from hypertension. A total of 103 Canadian primary care physicians were included in this research study. As a result of the analysis, researchers identified that the main barriers in this process are the lack of appropriate time, physicians’ concerns that the patient would not follow their recommendations, and the lack of nutrition knowledge. Hence, it is essential to implement technology-based programs to facilitate diet discussions.
Fisher, N., Fera, L., Dunning, J., Desai, S., Matta, L., Liquori, V., Pagliaro, J., Pabo, E., Merriam, M., MacRae, C., & Scirica, B. (2019). Development of an entirely remote, non-physician led hypertension management program. Clinical Cardiology, 42(2), 285-291. Web.
Even though hypertension is a well-studied health issue not only in the US but in the whole world, this disease is poorly controlled on the population level. Therefore, researchers of this study aim to develop an innovative hypertension program focused on adults suffering from the negative impact of high blood pressure. The development of this program was based on the analysis of the health status of 130 patients. In fact, these individuals received a Bluetooth-enabled BP device that was transferring medical information to clinicians. As a result, healthcare providers had the opportunity to communicate with patients once a week in order to prescribe appropriate treatment options. Accordingly, this program can be considered an effective tool for hypertension management, as 91% of study participants significantly lowered their blood pressure in an average of seven weeks.
Jones, N., Forouhi, N., Khaw, K., Wareham, N., & Monsivais, P. (2018). Accordance to the dietary approaches to stop hypertension diet pattern and cardiovascular disease in a British, population-based cohort. European Journal of Epidemiology, 33(2), 235-244. Web.
There is limited information regarding the association between the DASH diet and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the UK, which is why researchers have a goal to test whether clinicians should recommend this kind of diet to patients suffering from this disease. From the perspective of study participants, 23,655 UK adults were taken into consideration. Findings demonstrate that patients following the main principles of the DASH diet had a 20% lower risk of incident stroke and 13% lower risk of total incident CVD. Thus, UK healthcare providers are welcomed to consult their patients on the benefits of the DASH diet for their overall health.
Juraschek, S., Miller, E., Weaver, C., & Appel, L. (2017). Effects of sodium reduction and the DASH diet in relation to baseline blood pressure. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 70(23), 2841-2848. Web.
A dietary intervention encouraging people to consume fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is known to be effective in treating hypertension. In this study, a total of 412 participants was separated into two groups where they either were using DASH diet or sodium reduction diet. Results of this experiment demonstrate that the individual and combined effects from both dietary interventions are profound, especially in hypertensive individuals. Therefore, it is important to combine both kinds of diet in order to achieve positive results.
Juraschek, S., White, K., Tang, O., Yeh, H., Cooper, L., & Miller, E. (2018). Effects of a dietary approach to stop hypertension (DASH) diet intervention on serum uric acid in African Americans with hypertension. Arthritis Care & Research, 70(10), 1509-1516. Web.
Researchers of this article aim to determine whether the intervention of partially replacing African American patients’ diet with DASH-related foods can be used to lower uric acid. A total of 123 study participants were divided into control and intervention groups. The first group was required to consume food according to a single DASH brochure, whereas the second group received coach-directed dietary advice and assistance with purchasing appropriate food. According to findings, there was no significant difference between the control and intervention groups in terms of uric acid reduction. However, people with higher SUA levels at baseline considerably benefited from the diet with DASH-related foods. Consequently, researchers recommend improving the suggested dietary intervention by adding other essential elements into nutrition, including low-fat dairy and lean meats.
Juraschek, S., Woodward, M., Sacks, F., Carey, V., Miller, E., & Appel, L. (2017). Time course of change in blood pressure from sodium reduction and the DASH diet. Hypertension, 70(5), 923-929. Web.
Despite the fact that both sodium reduction and the DASH diet are proved to have a positive effect on blood pressure, there is limited information regarding the impact of these interventions from a long-term perspective. Accordingly, the main purpose of this research article is to determine the long-term effects of these kinds of diets on the well-being of individuals suffering from hypertension. A total of 412 participants were divided into two groups. The first group was treated with the help of a typical American diet, whereas the other one had to consume food according to the DASH diet. The results of this study demonstrate that the DASH diet lowered blood pressure within a week compared with a control group. In other words, the DASH diet is expected to bring positive results in one week, while the full effects of a typical American diet may not have been fully achieved by one month.
Kawamura, A., Inagaki, J., Umemoto, S., Kajiya, K., Kishi, H., & Mitarai, M., Oda, H., & Kobayashi, S. (2020). Dietary adherence, self-efficacy, and health behavior change of WASHOKU-modified DASH diet: A sub-analysis of the DASH-JUMP study. Current Hypertension Reviews, 16(2), 128-137. Web.
Even though the dietary adherence to the DASH diet does not significantly depend on the nationality of patients, there are still some differences in perception of the DASH-style diet throughout the world. It is the reason why researchers of this study have an intention to evaluate the perception of the DASH diet among the Japanese population. In order to achieve this goal, researchers conducted surveys among 43 individuals who followed the principles of the DASH-JUMP diet for eight weeks. The results demonstrate that this kind of diet is associated with considerable lifestyle changes and promotion of healthy habits among Japanese.
Khan, N., Bacon, S., Khan, S., Perlmutter, S., Gerlinsky, C., & Dermer, M., Johnson, L., Alves, F., McLean, D., Laupacis, A., Pui, M., Berg, A., & Flowitt, F. (2017). Hypertension management research priorities from patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers: A report from the Hypertension Canada Priority Setting Partnership Group. The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 19(11), 1063-1069. Web.
Currently, there is a lot of evidence-based information about hypertension management, which can be used in medical practice. At the same time, in order to increase the level of awareness in this field, researchers of this article aim to identify the most valuable research priorities of healthcare stakeholders. The analysis of responses of 386 study participants has helped determine the main priorities of stakeholders from the perspective of blood pressure management. For instance, patients prefer lifestyle interventions over drugs, whereas healthcare providers pay a vast amount of attention to education.
Kim, H., Lichtenstein, A., Wong, K., Appel, L., Coresh, J., & Rebholz, C. (2020). Urine metabolites associated with the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet: Results from the DASH‐sodium trial. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 65(3), 2000695. Web.
The main goal of this article was to determine if there are similarities between candidate biomarkers identified in serum for the DASH diet and in urine in the DASH-Sodium trial. In order to receive the most accurate results, a total of 412 study participants were randomly divided into a DASH diet group and a control diet intervention group for three months. When it comes to methods used in the study, it is essential to highlight the importance of multivariable linear regression models that were used to determine the connection between diet interventions and individual metabolites. Finally, researchers highlight that candidate biomarkers of the DASH diet identified in serum replicated in urine.
Kucharska, A., Jaworski, M., Panczyk, M., Pilska, M., Gajewska, D., & Niegowska, J. (2018). The effectiveness of dietary approaches to stop hypertension diet intervention in persons with arterial hypertension and obesity: A key role of the patients’ personality profile. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 72(2), 104-111. Web.
There is a variety of therapies that are used by healthcare providers to improve the physical well-being of obese patients who suffer from hypertension. However, the majority of these treatment options do not take into consideration psychological health. Therefore, this article is intended to assess the relationship between various personality traits the effectiveness of treatment for weight loss. A total of 84 patients diagnosed with both obesity and hypertension were analyzed. When it comes to personal traits that determine the effectiveness of treatment, it is essential to highlight neuroticism, conscientiousness, and extraversion. Nevertheless, no difference between males and females in DASH values and weight loss was noticed.
Lin, P., Tyson, C., & Svetkey, L. (2020). The DASH dietary pattern. Nutrition, Fitness, And Mindfulness, 3-16. Web.
In addition to the medications used to treat symptoms of hypertension, kidney disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, healthcare providers usually recommend paying attention to the DASH diet. This article provides comprehensive information about its benefits and challenges. On the one hand, this dietary intervention is considered one of the most effective methods to lower blood pressure, improve lipids, and achieve weight control. On the other hand, it is hard to maintain this diet, as it requires food tracking. Moreover, patients with lactose intolerance or food allergies (e.g., nuts) most likely should modify the diet by themselves. Finally, this kind of diet is high in fiber content of plant foods, which is why some people may face bloating and gas.
Maddock, J., Ziauddeen, N., Ambrosini, G., Wong, A., Hardy, R., & Ray, S. (2018). Adherence to a dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH)-type diet over the life course and associated vascular function: A study based on the MRC 1946 British birth cohort. British Journal of Nutrition, 119(5), 581-589. Web.
Although the DASH diet is known for its positive impact on the health of individuals suffering from hypertension, there is limited information regarding its long-term effects on cardiovascular (CV)-risk factors. Therefore, researchers aim to identify if long-term adherence to a DASH-type diet is associated with conventional CV-risk factors. From the perspective methods used for this study, data from participants of the Medical Research Council (MRC) was analyzed. A total of 5362 were included in this study. Consequently, this analysis demonstrates that a DASH-type diet is associated with a favorable CV-risk profile and improved vascular function. When it comes to the strengths of this study, it is important to highlight the use of a nationally representative birth cohort.
Mahmood, S., Shah, K., Khan, T., Nawaz, S., Rashid, H., Baqar, S., & Kamran, S. (2018). Non-pharmacological management of hypertension: In the light of current research. Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -), 188(2), 437-452. Web.
In addition to pharmacological management of hypertension, there is also a non-pharmacological way of treating this disease. Most frequently, physicians advise patients to take into consideration a combination of various lifestyle interventions. For instance, it is a common practice when healthcare providers encourage people suffering from hypertension to increase physical activity, improve nutrition habits, reduce stress, as well as avoid drugs and excessive alcohol intake. Nevertheless, non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension is a long-term intervention that should be followed for at least six months to bring positive consequences. Researchers state that stage-1 hypertensive patients usually do not require pharmacological treatment, which is why their health disease can be successfully treated with the help of suggested lifestyle modifications.
Mazloomy MahmoodAbad, S., Dashti, S., Salehi-Abargouei, A., Fallahzadeh, H., & Soltani, M. (2019). The rate of compliance of prehypertension individuals from dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH): An application of the theory of planned behavior. Ann Med Health Sci Res, 448-452. Web.
This research study was initially conducted in order to identify compliance dietary approaches that can be used to stop hypertension among pre-hypertensions. In order to achieve this goal, researchers use a cluster sampling method that is applied to the survey responses of 165 patients. These individuals were asked about the DASH diet and its impact on their overall well-being. The analysis of patient responses demonstrates that it is essential to increase compliance with this kind of diet with the help of theoretically-based interventions. Considering that pre-hypertension is diagnosed in 30-50% of individuals throughout the whole world, this research study has considerable relevance at the time.
Mehrabian, F., Farmanbar, R., Mahdavi-Roshan, M., Omidi, S., & Aghebati, R. (2018). The effect of nutrition education based on DASH diet on blood pressure and dietary adherence among patients with hypertension. Caspian Journal of Health Research, 3(2), 48-52. Web.
As a major health threat, hypertension has become a significant problem for numerous individuals, regardless of their gender, age, and ethnic background. Therefore, in order to examine whether this health issue can be successfully treated with dietary interventions, researchers investigate the effect of training on adherence to the DASH diet on 150 hypertensive patients from Iran. These patients were randomly assigned to two different groups, such as the control group and intervention group. Analysis of covariance has helped researchers conclude that implementation of the DASH diet intervention is an effective strategy for improving the overall well-being of patients. This experiment demonstrates that people who regularly consume fat, tea, and salty food are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure and its complications in the future.
Murtaugh, M., Beasley, J., Appel, L., Guenther, P., McFadden, M., Greene, T., & Tooze, J. (2018). Relationship of sodium intake and blood pressure varies with energy intake. Hypertension, 71(5), 858-865. Web.
Researchers of this article used a mix of several methods to identify the way energy intake can be impacted. First, they assigned study participants in two separate groups asking the first group to follow the DASH diet, whereas the second group was required to consume food according to a typical American diet. Second, mixed-effects models were used in order to evaluate the association of Na and energy intakes with blood pressure. Finally, findings demonstrate that there is a considerable correlation between Na and diastolic blood pressure, which varies with energy intake.
Nathenson, P. (2017). The DASH diet: A cultural adaptation. Nursing, 47(4), 57-59. Web.
In spite of the fact that the DASH diet can be recommended to all individuals, regardless of their ethnic background, each healthcare provider should be able to make appropriate adaptations for the specific population that they serve. In this article, researchers aim to modify the basic principles of the DASH diet for the Vietnamese population in Nebraska. Considering that this population group is susceptible to weight gain, hypertension, and kidney disease, the idea of this article is tremendously relevant at the time. The traditional Vietnamese diet is known for rice that is added to the majority of local meals, which is why this population group suffers from high sodium intake. Therefore, healthcare providers should encourage the Vietnamese population to replace white rice with whole grain brown rice, whereas a low sodium soy sauce can be a great alternative for traditional soy souse. Furthermore, clinicians should educate this population group on the importance of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oils.
Nishigaki, N., Shimasaki, Y., Yoshida, T., & Hasebe, N. (2020). Physician and patient perspectives on hypertension management and factors associated with lifestyle modifications in Japan: Results from an online survey. Hypertension Research, 43(5), 450-462. Web.
This article provides important information regarding differences between Japanese physician and patient perspectives on hypertension management. In order to achieve this goal, researchers conducted a survey that was analyzed with the help of multivariate logistic regression analysis. The findings of this article demonstrate that education on lifestyle changes provided by physicians was not received by patients as much as physicians thought. Accordingly, it is essential to improve the process of communication between healthcare providers and patients in terms of lifestyle modifications.
Ozemek, C., Laddu, D., Arena, R., & Lavie, C. (2018). The role of diet for prevention and management of hypertension. Current Opinion in Cardiology, 33(4), 388-393. Web.
The main aim of this article is to gather evidence-based information related to dietary approaches that can be used to lower blood pressure. Considering that the DASH diet demonstrates a high level of effectiveness to treat health issues associated with high blood pressure, this kind of diet is reviewed by researchers. In turn, they also discuss the benefits of implementing digital lifestyle interventions based on the DASH diet. In conclusion, the combination of the DASH diet and sodium reduction is expected to significantly improve the health status of individuals suffering from hypertension.
Ozemek, C., Phillips, S., Popovic, D., Laddu-Patel, D., Fancher, I., Arena, R., & Lavie, C. (2017). Nonpharmacologic management of hypertension. Current Opinion in Cardiology, 32(4), 381-388. Web.
In addition to medications, clinicians usually recommend patients suffering from hypertension to consider lifestyle modifications, such as increasing physical activity, dietary modification, weight loss, reducing alcohol consumption, and smoking cessation. However, researchers highlight that numerous healthcare providers do not have an appropriate amount of time to discuss lifestyle modifications with their patients. As a result, it is recommended to implement programs that are intended to educate individuals to lead peer support groups. In turn, it is predicted that patients joining these groups will have a high level of compliance in terms of lifestyle modifications. Hence, forming multidisciplinary teams is an effective intervention that should be implemented in healthcare facilitates where physicians have a limited time to discuss lifestyle modifications with patients.
Rodriguez, M., Friedberg, J., DiGiovanni, A., Wang, B., Wylie-Rosett, J., Hyoung, S., & Natarajan, S. (2019). A tailored behavioral intervention to promote adherence to the DASH diet. American Journal of Health Behavior, 43(4), 659-670. Web.
Researchers of this article have a purpose of analyzing the effects of a tailored behavioral intervention. A total of 533 participants were included in this study. A randomized clinical trial was analyzed with the help of the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Findings demonstrate that a tailored behavioral intervention offers the opportunity to increase the DASH diet adherence among patients who suffer from hypertension and its complications. Moreover, TTM-based phone call counseling was found to be an effective educational intervention focused on achieving considerable behavioral change. At the same time, when it comes to individuals’ DASH scores, the NTI was not as effective as other treatment options.
Schoenthaler, A., Knafl, G., Fiscella, K., & Ogedegbe, G. (2017). Addressing the social needs of hypertensive patients. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 10(9), 12-23. Web.
The main goal of this article is to analyze the impact of communication between patients and healthcare providers on dietary adherence. This cohort study took place in New York City, where 92 patients and 27 clinicians were audiotaped. Findings of this research study demonstrate that poor communication is associated with a 3 times higher increase in the risk for poor medication adherence among patients suffering from hypertension. When it comes to representatives of the black race, they had less discussion about sociodemographic circumstances with their healthcare provider. Researchers recommend implementing educational initiatives that increase the level of knowledge about the effect of communication on medication adherence.
Seangpraw, K., Auttama, N., Tonchoy, P., & Panta, P. (2019). The effect of the behavior modification program dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) on reducing the risk of hypertension among elderly patients in the rural community of Phayao, Thailand. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 12, 109–118. Web.
This article focuses on the evaluation of the impact of the DASH program on the health status of elderly patients who suffer from issues with blood pressure. A total of 175 study participants from Northern Thailand were randomly assigned to either the control group or intervention group. Afterward, the intervention group was required to follow the main principles of the DASH program, whereas the control group did not use any lifestyle modifications. In three months, the health status of participants from both groups was assessed. As a result, the DASH program has helped individuals aged 60-69 significantly lower their blood pressure and control stage one hypertension. It is recommended to encourage elderly population groups to take into consideration the benefits of DASH programs to improve their overall well-being.
Soltani, S., Arablou, T., Jayedi, A., & Salehi-Abargouei, A. (2020). Adherence to the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet in relation to all-cause and cause-specific mortality: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Nutrition Journal, 19(1). Web.
Even though there is an abundance of information related to the DASH program, the dose-response connection between adherence to this kind of diet and cause-specific mortality is not identified. Therefore, researchers aim to determine this connection with the help of a systematic review. First, a database search was performed in order to identify and analyze relevant evidence-based articles focused on this topic. Second, researchers utilized the two-stage hierarchical regression model to test dose-response associations. As a result, the article provides useful background information about the significance of the DASH program. Researchers highlight that implementation of this program is associated with a considerable reduction in blood pressure, as well as overall mortality numbers.
Soltani, S., Chitsazi, M., & Salehi-Abargouei, A. (2018). The effect of dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) on serum inflammatory markers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Clinical Nutrition, 37(2), 542-550. Web.
As one of the most effective lifestyle modifications, the DASH program plays an essential role in lowering blood pressure. However, there are numerous debates regarding its impact on inflammatory biomarkers. Therefore, researchers aim to identify the effects of this dilatory approach on inflammatory biomarkers by assessing randomized trials. The meta-analysis performed by Soltani et al. combines the results of 6 scientific studies. Findings demonstrate that the DASH program can be successfully applied to suppress the inflammation process, as this lifestyle intervention has a high level of effectiveness in terms of improving circulating serum inflammatory biomarkers. Nevertheless, it is important to conduct additional research studies to get the most accurate results.
Taghavi, M., Sadeghi, A., Maleki, V., Nasiri, M., Khodadost, M., & Pirouzi, A., Rashid-Beigi, E., Sadeghi, O, & Swann, O. (2019). Adherence to the dietary approaches to stop hypertension-style diet is inversely associated with chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Nutrition Research, 72(2), 46-56. Web.
In addition to hypertension, the DASH program can also be used to treat a variety of other health issues. In this systematic review, researchers aim to determine the effectiveness of this dietary approach in the process of chronic kidney disease prevention. A total of six research studies were included in this systematic review. In turn, performed analysis demonstrates that the DASH program can be considered an effective strategy to prevent many chronic diseases, including chronic kidney disease and metabolic syndrome. However, one of the analyzed research studies did not demonstrate any significant association between DASH-style diet and effective prevention of chronic kidney disease. Accordingly, it is essential to analyze the potential connection between these elements with the help of additional research studies.
Xiao, M., Lin, J., Li, Y., Liu, M., Deng, Y., Wang, C., & Chen, Y. (2019). Adherence to the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet is associated with lower presence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in middle-aged and elderly adults. Public Health Nutrition, 23(4), 674-682. Web.
Healthcare providers have been successfully using the DASH program for hypertension management in the past several years. However, there is limited information about the connection of this dietary approach to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Therefore, researchers of this article aim to identify the connection between these elements. In order to achieve this goal, Xiao et al. performed a cross-sectional analysis of a population-based cohort study. Findings demonstrate that the DASH program is an effective tool that can be used to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adults. Furthermore, researchers highlight that a DASH-style diet should be recommended to patients who are interested in weight reduction.
Patient Education
Cloud, A. (2020). Online DASH diet education to reduce blood pressure in primary care patients. University of Missouri Kansas City. Web.
Considering that high blood pressure is a major health threat that can result in myocardial infarction, stroke, renal failure, and potentially death, numerous clinicians aim to minimize the negative effects of hypertension with the help of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. When it comes to non-pharmacological interventions, the DASH program compliance plays an essential role. As a result, this article is based on the idea to analyze the potential effectiveness of utilizing an online program with telephone follow-up calls. In fact, 30 study participants were required to follow the main principles of the DASH for Health online program along with regular telephone follow-up calls for a duration of 12 weeks. Findings demonstrate that implementation of this kind of program is beneficial for patients, as it helps significantly lower blood pressure and control weight. Moreover, the level of DASH compliance is expected to increase.
Darabi, Z., Araban, M., Azizi, A., Angali, K., & Borazjani, F. (2020). The effectiveness of a mobile phone education-based on self-efficacy and DASH diet among patient with high blood pressure: A randomized controlled trial, 2-20. Web.
This article focuses on the idea to analyze the effectiveness of the mobile app for improving self-efficacy on adherence to the DASH-style diet. A total of 88 patients suffering from hypertension participated in this randomized controlled trial. The study participants were randomly assigned to either a control group or an intervention group. The intervention group was treated with the help of usual care accompanied by a mobile app with DASH-related recommendations. In turn, the control group was treated the same way they were treated before. Findings demonstrate that the average level of self-efficacy among patients from the intervention group was higher than the self-efficacy level of participants from the control group. Consequently, in order to lower blood pressure and educate patients on the importance of the DASH-style diet, clinicians should consider the implementation of a program that is based on the use of appropriate mobile apps.
Smith, S. (2020). DASH diet education for improvement in hypertensive outcomes. DNP Scholarly Project, East Carolina University. Web.
This article is based on the idea to analyze the impact of a structured DASH education program on the knowledge and awareness of hypertensive employees of the organization that utilizes an onsite workplace hospital. During the period of two months, these individuals were receiving information regarding hypertension, its effects on health, and the most effective treatment options. Findings demonstrate that 30% of study participants had a considerable reduction in blood pressure, and 96% of these individuals were able to determine the association between the DASH diet and blood pressure. Thus, this article can be considered an example of the importance of patient education in terms of hypertension and its complications.
Spencer, P. (2019). The implementation of the teach-cack method in DASH diet education to improve blood pressure control in patients with hypertension and low health literacy. Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. Web.
As the level of understanding basic health information, health literacy plays an important role in the process of health disease treatment. When it comes to hypertension, a low health literacy level can significantly affect the entire treatment process. Hence, Spencer aims to analyze the effectiveness of the teach-back method in providing DASH diet education. This tool was initially developed in order to help patients control their blood pressure and promote dietary compliance. A 24-hour dietary recall interview was used as the main assessment method in this research study. As a result, Spencer concludes that the use of the teach-back method is expected to be beneficial for patients who have low health literacy levels, as this tool improves patients’ management of hypertension.
Tavakoly, S., Peyman, N., Behzhad, F., Esmaeily, H., Taghipoor, A., & Ferns, G. (2017). Health providers’ communication skills training affects hypertension outcomes. Medical Teacher, 40(2), 154-163. Web.
There are many barriers that can negatively affect the process of hypertension treatment, including the inability of healthcare providers to provide information to patients in the appropriate manner. Therefore, the main purpose of this article is to analyze the effectiveness of communication skills training targeting health providers. To achieve this goal, researchers used a randomized controlled trial method. Findings demonstrate that communication skills training for clinicians is expected to result in noticeable improvement of hypertension outcomes among patients.
Food Frequency Tool
Ahmadnezhad, M., Asadi, Z., Heidarian, H., Ebrahimi-Mamaghani, M., Ghayour-Mobarhan, M., Ferns, G. (2017). Validation of a short semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for adults: A pilot study. J Nutr Sci & Diet, 3(2), 49–55. Web.
This article focuses on the idea of exploring the reproducibility of a short food frequency questionnaire. When it comes to participants, a total of 30 individuals were included in this study. First, they were required to complete the short semi-quantitative food item FFQ. Second, two 24-hour dietary recall was used in this study. As a result, researchers highlight that the analyzed questionnaire can be successfully used to measure macronutrients and micronutrients. However, considering that the results of this study are based on small sample size, it is essential to conduct a similar study with more participants in the future.
El Kinany, K., Garcia-Larsen, V., Khalis, M., Deoula, M., Benslimane, A., & Ibrahim, A. et al. (2018). Adaptation and validation of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess dietary intake in Moroccan adults. Nutrition Journal, 17(1). Web.
Even though there is a variety of food frequency questionnaires that can be used to determine usual food consumption, no culture-specific questionnaires are discussed in the area of healthcare. Therefore, this article is based on the idea to adapt usual food frequency questionnaires for the adult population that lives in Morocco. After identifying foods that are representative of Moroccan culture, researchers added them to FFQ. Afterward, 105 adults were invited to answer modified food frequency questionnaires. As a result, El Kinany et al. highlight that adapted FFQ can be successfully used to indicate the usual frequency of food consumption in the Moroccan region.
Park, Y., Dodd, K., Kipnis, V., Thompson, F., Potischman, N., & Schoeller, D. et al. (2018). Comparison of self-reported dietary intakes from the automated self-administered 24-h recall, 4-d food records, and food-frequency questionnaires against recovery biomarkers. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 107(1), 80-93. Web.
When it comes to self-reported dietary intakes against objective recovery biomarkers, there is limited information on this topic. Hence, to increase the level of awareness in this field, Park et al. compare dietary intakes of numerous self-administered recalls and 4-d food records. A total of 1075 individuals were asked to participate in this research study. Responses of the participants were analyzed and interpreted in order to assess the habitual intake of the selected population. As a result, researchers highlight that some misreporting was noticed. Nevertheless, analyzed questionnaires demonstrate reasonable estimates of absolute dietary intakes.
Steinemann, N., Grize, L., Ziesemer, K., Kauf, P., Probst-Hensch, N., & Brombach, C. (2017). Relative validation of a food frequency questionnaire to estimate food intake in an adult population. Food & Nutrition Research, 61(1), 1305193. Web.
As the most common dietary tools used in large epidemiological studies, FFQs play an essential role in the field of healthcare. This article is based on the idea to analyze one of the most innovative FFQs that is used in clinical settings to assess the habitual intake of the population. In order to achieve this goal, a total of 56 participants were included in this study. These individuals were required to complete a paper format FFQ and a 4-d FR within one month. From the perspective of study methods, researchers used Bland–Altman analysis and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. In turn, findings demonstrate that the analyzed FFQ can be considered an effective tool for assessing nutrition. In fact, this questionnaire is associated with moderate relative validity for the majority of foods.
Tang, D., Mitchell, P., Liew, G., Burlutsky, G., Flood, V., & Gopinath, B. (2019). Evaluation of a novel tool for screening inadequate food intake in age-related macular degeneration patients. Nutrients, 11(12), 3031. Web.
In order to receive valuable nutrition information, healthcare providers usually use various diet assessment tools. Thus, the main purpose of this article is to assess the clinical use of a novel, which is widely known as a short dietary questionnaire. The relevance of this research is based on the fact that it is extremely important to screen for inadequate food intake in patients suffering from macular degeneration. To achieve the goal of this study, researchers compare the novel with FFQ. Subsequently, Tang et al. highlight that novel is an effective diet screening tool, as no significant difference was noticed between FFQ and this tool. However, it would be important to conduct additional research studies to ensure novel can be successfully used in medical practice.
Tsoi, K., Chan, R., Li, L., McAuliffe, F., Hanson, M., Tam, W., & Ma, R. (2020). Evaluation of dietary pattern in early pregnancy using the FIGO nutrition checklist compared to a food frequency questionnaire. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 151(S1), 37-44. Web.
In this article, the FIGO Nutrition Checklist is analyzed with the goal of understanding whether this tool can be safely used by pregnant women as an alternative to regular FFQs. In fact, pregnant Chinese women were asked to complete both the FIGO Nutrition Checklist and additional FFQs. Once this information was collected, researchers used Spearman correlation to analyze it and interpret results. A total of 160 participants were included in this study. Findings demonstrate that the effectiveness of both dietary tools was high. Therefore, the FIGO Nutrition Checklist can be used in clinical settings to identify women who face issues with food consumption.
Verger, E., Armstrong, P., Nielsen, T., Chakaroun, R., Aron-Wisnewsky, J., Gøbel, R., Schutz, T., Delaere, F., Gausseres, N., & Clement, K. (2017). Dietary assessment in the MetaCardis study: Development and relative validity of an online food frequency questionnaire. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 117(6), 878-888. Web.
One of the European studies uses FFQs in order to identify the diet-disease association in different countries of the continent. In turn, this study focuses on the idea to evaluate specific features of three semiquantitative FFQs used in the study mentioned above. Verger et al. used a cross-sectional study design for this research, as they relied on population-based surveys. After providing a comprehensive analysis of the long-term diet-disease relationship discussed in the European study, Verger and colleagues state that French MetaCardis FFQ can be perceived as a useful tool that investigates the relationship between dietary intake and certain diseases. Simultaneously, this research study has some limitations that should be taken into consideration. For instance, when it comes to dietary assessment methods and food composition databases, the national surveys differ across countries.
Vilela, S., Severo, M., Moreira, T., Ramos, E., & Lopes, C. (2018). Evaluation of a short food frequency questionnaire for dietary intake assessment among children. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 73(5), 679-691. Web.
This study aims to assess the effectiveness of FFQ focused on children of four and seven years of age. In order to estimate dietary intake in children, researchers completed an analysis that included information from 2482 4-year-old children and 3511 7-year-old children. As a result, findings demonstrate that discussed FFQ can be successfully used in medical practice to assess the usual dietary intake of underage individuals. At the same time, a vast amount of attention is dedicated to the fact that it is essential to adjust the FFQ portion size in order to get the most accurate results.