Case history by James V. Hardt, Ph.D.
A Deputy Police Chief (p2) suffering from hypertension, was seen for treatment. Like all those suffering from hypertension, p2 had twice the normal risk of a heart attack. Like others with hypertension, p2 could anticipate accelerating atherosclorosis (hardening of the arteries), as well as the mental stress and anxiety that accompany knowledge of this disease. People with hypertension do not just have high blood pressure, they also have underlying stress, anxiety, and tension, and they need to be on medication for the rest of their lives. There is a disturbing report of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (October, 1982) that antihypertensive medication may, itself, contribute to risk of death from heart attacks. Many people on such medication need continuous blood tests to monitor Potassium levels, because the medication tends to deplete the body of Potassium. Even the knowledge of having the disease of hypertension adds stress to a person who was already overstressed before the hypertension developed. And now the suggestion that the medication used to treat hypertension may, itself, cause heart attacks, requires finding a better way to treat hypertension. This treatment program is such a better way, and p2 benefited dramatically.
Before coming for treatment, p2 was on two separate antihypertensive medications, and had to do jogging to help release his tension. During a 3 1/2 month period of treatment, p2 received biofeedback, and counseling in medical, psychological and lifestyle areas. Before treatment p2 had to use two kinds of medication to maintain normal blood pressure. After treatment, p2 had been weaned off his medication, while staying in the low normal range of blood pressure. During the course of his treatment his job changed to provide more stress and require more time. p2 stopped jogging because of lack of time. Even so, the positive changes in his personality and the new ways of coping with stress allowed him to get off all blood pressure medication while still keeping his blood pressure down. In addition, p2's self confidence increased. He became master of his own body and was now in control of his reactions to stress. He also eliminated the fear and anxiety caused by having the disease of hypertension.
The treatment and training of p2 included 8 sessions of muscle (EMG) biofeedback. Both the frontalis and trapezius muscle groups were trained. After p2 achieved control (less than 1.0 microvolts) of the frontalis muscle, he was switched to training on the trapezius muscle, and after mastering control (less than 1.0 microvolts) on that second muscle group, he was switched to hand and foot temperature biofeedback. He started with a hand temperature of 88°F, but after 12 sessions of hand and/or foot temperature training he achieved hand warming to 96.5°F. The minimum requirements of hand and foot warming are 95.5°F and 93°F, respectively. If trainees can achieve these levels and hold them for at least 10 minutes/day, they will achieve a deep sympathetic nervous system relaxation which helps to lower blood pressure. This officer consistently hits the criterion temperatures in his formal sessions, and he does home practice daily to hit and maintain criterion for at least 10 minutes.
In addition to the physiological changes in p2, there are psychological changes. he has developed a new self confidence and self control, and a greater awareness of his response to stressful events. The old personality patterns that caused or allowed him to experience events stressfully changed so that he could safely and effectively handle even increased job pressures. This is a dramatic affirmation of the thesis that: It is not so much WHAT happens to you, rather it is HOW YOU REACT to WHAT happens to you, that is the cause of stress.