Impact of lifestyle interventions on reducing dietary sodium intake and blood pressure in patients with hypertension: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the impact of applying lifestyle intervention in the form of a continuous care model (CCM) on reducing dietary sodium intake and blood pressure (BP) in patients with hypertension. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in a 2-group design on a total of 50 patients who were hypertensive (experimental and control) as a pre‒post test study. A healthy lifestyle (emphasizing physical activity and heart-healthy diet) in the form of CCM, which considers the patient as an active agent in the health process, was conducted in the experimental group over a period of 4 months. The mean BP value and dietary sodium intake in both groups were measured at the beginning and the end of the study. RESULTS: The mean sodium intake, the mean systolic BP, and the mean diastolic BP decreased to 2.42±0.73 mm Hg (from 3.12±0.79), 128.4±13.04 mm Hg (from 144.20±13.12), and 79.4±8.93 mm Hg (from 89±9.12), respectively, after the intervention in the experimental group (p=0.021, p<0.001, and p=0.011, respectively). CONCLUSION: Applying lifestyle intervention in the form of CCM may be recommended to reduce dietary sodium intake and mean systolic and diastolic BP in patients who are hypertensive. Considering the fact that lifestyle modifications are quite important regardless of the use of antihypertensive drugs, lifestyle intervention in the form of CCM is recommended to improve patient's adherence to dietary restrictions and consequently, treatment outcomes in patients who are hypertensive.

Impact of hot stone massage therapy on sleep quality in patients on maintenance hemodialysis: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Many patients on maintenance hemodialysis experience sleep disorders. This problem is related to depression, anxiety, hospitalizations, chronic medical conditions, decreased quality of life, and increasing mortality rate in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. The objective of this research is to determine the impact of massage therapy by hot stone on quality of sleep in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial conducted on 60 patients on maintenance hemodialysis. They were assigned via random allocation process into two groups of study: intervention group (n = 30), or control group (n = 30). Patients in the experimental group received massage therapy by hot basalt stone for 12 séances. During the massage therapy, each of five basalt stones were placed at the sites of the fifth, fourth, third, second, and first chakra. Control group received their treatment as usual without any massage therapy. Using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the global score and its components were computed in both groups of study, two times (before the intervention and 1 month after the intervention). RESULTS: Although there were not any baseline differences between the two groups of study for the mean of global PSQI score (P = 0.92) before the study, the mean of global PSQI score in the intervention group, after the intervention decreased to 5.7 ± 3.06, but in the control group sleep quality increased to 10.7 ± 3.6. The difference between the mean of global score of PSQI among two groups of study after the massage therapy was statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Applying massage therapy by hot stone in hemodialysis patients may contribute in enhancing their quality of sleep.

Effect of lifestyle interventions on diabetic peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes, result of a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most common and troublesome complication of diabetes leading to great morbidity and resulting in a huge economic burden for diabetes care. Over half of people with diabetes develop neuropathy. Also, DPN is a major cause of reduced quality of life due to pain, sensory loss, gait instability, fall-related injury, and foot ulceration and amputation. The aim of this study was evaluating the effects of lifestyle interventions on diabetic neuropathy severity in diabetes type 2 outpatients. METHODS: This clinical trial conducted on 74 patients with DPN that divided with random allocation into intervention or control group. The lifestyle interventions applied in the intervention group beginning four educational sessions on lifestyle that emphasize strategies for lowering blood sugar, increasing physical activity, promoting weight loss, prudent diet, and foot caring. Each session was lasted for1.5 hour. Then patients followed for 12 weeks. During this period, they received counseling on mentioned lifestyle interventions. DPN severity in both groups measured using modified Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (mTCNS) at the beginning of study and at the end of counseling for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Comparing differences of mean of DNP severity before and after lifestyle intervention between two groups of study, there was a significant difference (p<0.001). DNP severity in control group had not any change or it increased in some participants, but DNP decreased in intervention group, after applying lifestyle intervention. CONCLUSION: Lifestyle interventions can contribute to reducing DPN severity, and consequently decreasing neuropathic pain.