recommendations for their children A survey of patterns of nonpharmacologic care for hypertensive patients, including

SUMMARY To ascertain current approaches of physicians to nutritional-hygienic management ofhypertensive patients and their children, a surrey was done among a random sample of Chicago-are*generalists, internists, and cardiologists. Thirteen items related to advice for patients; two for their children.Of 713 physicians holding M.D. degrees in the sample, 573 (80%) responded. For hypertensive patients, thegreat majority of physicians indicated that they advise weight loss, avoidance of salt use at table, no smoking,regular exercise, limitation of alcohol intake, and avoidance of stressful situations. Although 98% advisedweight loss, a minority responded positively to reduction of carbohydrate and/or fat intake. Only 25%recommended limiting the salt use of children, and only 19% recommended taking the blood pressure ofchildren of hypertensive patients. These data indicate that the majority of Chicago-area practitioners advocatenutritional-hygienic measures for their hypertensive patients. Only a minority, however, apparently advocateprimary preventive approaches for the children of hypertensive patients. (Hypertension 2: 215-220, 1980)KEYWORDS • hypertension • children • high dietary sodium • exercise • weight losssmoking • alcohol • coffee