[Modification of daily life in patients with mild hypertension].

Modifications of lifestyle not only have antihypertensive effects by themselves but also help reducing the dose of drugs. In addition to dietary modification and exercise, moderation of drinking and stopping smoking are important for hypertensive patients. Drinking should be restricted to 20-30 mL/day or less in terms of ethanol in males and 10-20 mL/day or less in females. And, smoking is a powerful risk factor for ischemic heart disease and stroke although its hypertensive effect is not established. Also, protection against the cold, stress management, and control of sleep prevent progress of hypertension and its cardiovascular complication.