Are Relaxation And Biofeedback Techniques Effective In High Blood Pressure Management?

— -- Question: Are relaxation and biofeedback techniques effective in high blood pressure management?

Answer: It has been shown that relaxation and biofeedback techniques lower blood pressure over a short period of time. Specifically during the time that the patient is doing them but in the rest of the 24-hour period, when the patient is not doing biofeedback, the blood pressure bounces back up. So in general these are not recommended as the main technique for blood pressure management, they maybe adjuncts to taking medications or exercise or dietary modifications, but should not be the major way of managing blood pressure in any given patient.