Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension With Sodium (Na) Reduction for Chinese Canadians (DASHNa-CC)

Inclusion Criteria:

• were at least 45 years old;
• had a systolic blood pressure 140 to 159 mmHg, or a diastolic blood pressure 90 to 99 mmHg, based on pre-intervention baseline assessment;
• were able to understand (listen) and speak in Mandarin, read and write in Chinese; and
• had access to a telephone.

Exclusion Criteria:

• used antihypertensive medications or other medications that raise or lower blood pressure during the previous three months;
• used TCM or professional TCM counselling to decrease blood pressure during the previous three months;
• used insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents during the previous three months;
• had a history of a cardiovascular event (stroke, myocardial infarction, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass surgery, or other arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease related therapeutic procedure) during the previous three months;
• had a history of congestive heart failure;
• had a cancer diagnosis or treatment during the past two years;
• had special dietary requirements;
• were pregnant, breast feeding, or planned for pregnancy prior to the anticipated end of study;
• were a household member of another DASHNa-CC participant; or
• planned to leave the area prior to the anticipated end of study.