A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of Fenugreek Seed in Reducing Blood Pressure Among the Adults with Hypertension Residing in Selected Areas of Mahabaleshwar Taluka

Abstract

Hypertension (HTN or HT), also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries are persistently elevated. (1) In Maharashtra, the overall prevalence of hypertension is pegged at 25% (2018), while a huge variation is found across the districts. The prevalence of high blood pressure is higher among the elderly (40%), among males (28%) and in the urban areas (27%). (8) Fenugreek lowers blood pressure because of its high potassium and fiber content. Fenugreek seeds and leaves are loaded with high amount of soluble fibre which aids in decreasing the cholesterol levels. (4) The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of fenugreek seeds in reducing blood pressure. A Quasi-experimental research study was conducted on twenty-nine adults, identified by using a purposive sampling technique. A self-prepared structured questionnaire was used as the research tool. A pre-test was carried out on day 1 and blood pressure was measured using ‘Aneroid Sphygmomanometer’. Five grams of fenugreek seeds soaked overnight in 15–20 ml of water was administered in the morning and evening for two weeks. A post-test was conducted by measuring the blood pressure on day 7 and 15 of the experiment. The findings showed that the fenugreek seeds were effective in significantly reducing the systolic and diastolic blood pressure among the selected hypertensive adults. The results of the study establish that consumption of fenugreek seeds is a non-pharmacological, safe and cost-effective method to reduce hypertension.