Effect of Dash Diet and Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Cardiovascular Risks in Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension is prevalent in postmenopausal women; therefore, lifestyle changes can help to manage cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
Material and Methods: Ninety hypertensive postmenopausal women aged between 50 and 60 years, with a BMI varying from 30 to 35 kg/m2, were split randomly into three equal groups (n = 30 for each group). Group (A) was treated with a DASH diet weekly and antihypertensive medication (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)), 1 tablet daily; group (B) was treated with progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), 3 times/week plus ACEI; and group (C) was treated with DASH diet weekly, PMR, 3 times/week plus ACEI. The treatment lasted for 3 months. Blood pressure was measured utilizing a sphygmomanometer, lipid profile was evaluated using blood testing, and stress level was evaluated utilizing the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) before and after therapy.
Results: There was a significant lowering in systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure (p < 0.05), PSS, significant improvement in lipid profile across groups following therapy in favor of group C (p < 0.01). There was no significant change across groups A and B in SBP and DBP (p > 0.05). There was a significantly improvement in lipid profile in group A compared to that in group B after therapy (p < 0.05). There was a significantly reduction in PSS in group B compared to that in group A after therapy (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: The DASH diet and PMR were effective in reducing cardiovascular risks in postmenopausal women.