The impact of tomato juice on hypertension management in the elderly community

Abstract

Hypertension is a prevalent cardiovascular condition often experienced by the elderly, affecting 57.6% of this population. One non-pharmacological therapy that can be beneficial for hypertensive patients is nutritional therapy, specifically through dietary management that includes the consumption of tomato juice. The potassium content in tomato juice has the potential to effectively lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, making it a promising breakthrough in addressing hypertension. This scientific paper aims to explain gerontic nursing care through the application of tomato juice therapy to reduce blood pressure in the elderly, thereby minimizing the complications associated with hypertension. Using a descriptive approach in the form of a case study, we examined three elderly clients with hypertension. The intervention involved administering tomato juice at a dosage of 150 ml once a day for seven days. The results indicated that while the administration of tomato juice did not lead to a significant decrease in blood pressure—due to the varying lifestyles of each client—it was observed that the consumption of tomato juice could lower hypertension by 10-30 mmHg. The findings suggest that the use of tomato juice may serve as a complementary alternative to pharmacological treatments, considering the numerous benefits of tomatoes, particularly in lowering blood pressure.

Keywords: Hypertension; elderly; tomato juice; gerontic nursing; nursing care