Key result
Education plus progressive muscle relaxation leaves ~75% of hypertensive patients anxiety-free.
Why the study?
Unmanaged anxiety in hypertension triggers sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity that elevates blood pressure and complicates management, motivating an evaluation of combined health education and Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) therapy for reducing anxiety.
Does combining health education and Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) therapy reduce anxiety levels in patients with hypertension?
Does combining health education and Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) therapy reduce anxiety levels in patients with hypertension?
Combining structured hypertension education with Progressive Muscle Relaxation therapy significantly reduced moderate-to-severe anxiety to 0% in a small community cohort of hypertensive patients.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May reduce anxiety in hypertensive patients; leaves open efficacy pending randomized trials.
Hypertension is a global health challenge frequently associated with psychological distress. Unmanaged anxiety triggers sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity, which further elevates blood pressure and complicates management. Integrating health education with psychomotor interventions like Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is essential for community-based care. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of combining health education and PMR therapy in reducing anxiety levels among patients with hypertension. This pre-experimental study used a One-Group Pre-Test–Post-Test design involving 20 hypertensive patients selected via total sampling in Sumurlo Hamlet, Blendis Village, Tulungagung Regency. The intervention was systematically implemented across two sessions, combining oral hypertension education and guided practical training of PMR. Data were collected using the standardized Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (ZSAS) questionnaire before and after the program. The data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test α = 0.05. Prior to the intervention, 100% of the respondents experienced anxiety, with 55% at a moderate level and 20% at a severe level. Post-intervention, a significant clinical shift occurred: 75% of the respondents reported being completely free from anxiety, while moderate and severe anxiety levels dropped to 0%. Statistical analysis revealed a significant decrease in anxiety scores following the intervention with a ρ value = 0,000. The combination of structured health education and complementary PMR therapy is highly effective in eliminating moderate-to-severe anxiety among hypertensive individuals. This dual intervention provides a costless, accessible, and scalable non-pharmacological strategy suitable for community-based chronic disease management.
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Mahyuvi et al. (2026) studied Hypertension with anxiety (n=20). Structured hypertension health education combined with Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) therapy vs. Pre-intervention baseline (one-group pre-test–post-test design) was evaluated on Overall anxiety prevalence measured by the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (ZSAS) (p=0.000). Combined health education and Progressive Muscle Relaxation therapy eliminated moderate-to-severe anxiety (from 75% to 0%) and left 75% of hypertensive patients anxiety-free (p=0.000).
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