Effect of Dash Diet and Progressive Muscle Relaxation on Cardiovascular Risks in Postmenopausal Women
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
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.
Authors: Farahnaz A. Mohamed, Hala M. Hanafy, Mohamed A. Awad, Sameh H. Samir, Heba S. Abd El-Haliem
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4407900418