The majority of patients with mild primary hypertension are advised to persist with a one-year trial of nondrug treatment. It is important to understand the essential requirements of the program. The hypertensive must be aware of the dangers of the so-called silent killer to become sufficiently motivated to comply with self-imposed treatment. Individuals who persist with nondrug treatment

have a 50% chance of lowering blood pressure to normal. The essential requirements are given in order of impor¬tance, and each will be discussed in detail below.
• Sodium in the diet should be reduced to less than 2 g daily and at maximum 3 g (see Table 2).
• Weight reduction is absolutely necessary and is always associated with a fall in blood pressure. The loss of 15–30 pounds always causes a considerable drop in blood pressure and medications may not be required.
• Removal of stress or learning to adjust to stress may result in reduction of high blood pressure, and a trial of relaxation techniques can be useful in some individuals.
• Regular exercise will assist with weight reduction and relaxation.
• Alcohol intake should not exceed two ounces daily.
• The patient should reduce coffee intake and must stop smoking.

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