People would prefer to pop a pill or drink a cup of tea in attempts to lower blood pressure, rather than exert physical effort, a survey says.
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine asked 1,384 men and women which option they would rather do if they could extend their lives for another month, one year, and five years. All the participants were under 45 years old and have a history of hypertension, Tech Times reports.
The participants were asked if they would rather take a pill, drink tea, exercise, or have monthly or bi-annual injections. The majority of them – 79% — chose to take a pill. The rate increased at 90% and 96% if they would live longer for one year and five years, respectively.
Tea, which contains antioxidants, came in second as a longevity option, at 78% for a month, 91% for one year, and 96% for five years. Just 63% chose exercise as the main option, though the rate went up to 84% and 96% if their lives would go one for another year and five years.
Dr. Erica Spatz, an assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine at the Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation in Yale and study author, said that only one in five Americans are actually interested in prolonging their lives by any means necessary.
The study aimed to determine how people chose treatments for cardiovascular risks if they had to choose between benefits versus inconvenience. Spatz said,
Our findings demonstrate that people naturally assign different weights to the pluses and minuses of interventions to improve cardiovascular health.
“I believe we need to tap into this framework when we are talking with patients about options to manage their blood pressure. We are good about discussing side effects, but rarely do we find out if other inconveniences or burdens may be impacting a person’s willingness to take a lifelong medication or to exercise regularly,” she added.
The research was presented at the American Heart Association.
