Surreal illustration of a text message lowering a blood pressure gauge.

Texting Your Way to Better Blood Pressure: How SMS Can Help Manage Hypertension

Mira Elwood in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how short message service (SMS) is revolutionizing non-pharmacological hypertension management and improving patient outcomes in urban settings."

Hypertension, often called high blood pressure, is a major global health challenge, contributing significantly to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). CVDs are the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for an estimated 17.9 million deaths each year. A significant portion of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the urgent need for effective and accessible management strategies.

While medication is a cornerstone of hypertension treatment, lifestyle modifications, such as diet and exercise, play a crucial role in managing blood pressure. However, adherence to these non-pharmacological approaches can be challenging. This is where innovative solutions like short message service (SMS) come into play, offering a convenient and cost-effective way to support patients in their self-management efforts.

A recent study conducted in an urban public hospital in Multan, Pakistan, explored the effectiveness of SMS in promoting non-pharmacological treatment approaches for hypertension. The results shed light on how this simple technology can significantly improve patient adherence and overall hypertension management.

SMS for Hypertension: How Does It Work?

Surreal illustration of a text message lowering a blood pressure gauge.

The study, published in the Journal of Public Health, investigated the impact of SMS reminders and educational messages on hypertensive patients. Researchers enrolled 120 patients with hypertension and divided them into two groups: an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group received regular SMS messages in addition to standard medical care, while the control group received only standard medical care.

The SMS intervention included several key components:

Educational Messages: Patients in the intervention group received regular text messages about healthy diet, exercise, and the importance of adherence to their medication regimen.
Reminder SMSs: To ensure medication adherence, patients received reminder SMSs twice daily, prompting them to take their prescribed medications.
Feedback Collection: Researchers collected patient feedback to assess improvements in adherence and reductions in blood pressure.

The results of the study were promising. At the end of the study period, the intervention group demonstrated better hypertension control compared to the control group. Specifically, systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the intervention group declined by 8 mmHg, while diastolic blood pressure (DBP) declined by 6 mmHg. In contrast, the control group showed a more modest decrease of 2 mmHg in SBP and 3 mmHg in DBP.

The Future of Hypertension Management: Simple Tech, Big Impact

The study's findings suggest that SMS can be a valuable tool for enhancing adherence to non-pharmacological treatment approaches for hypertension and improving patient compliance. By providing regular reminders and educational information, SMS can empower patients to take control of their health and make informed decisions about their lifestyle choices. As mobile technology continues to evolve, SMS-based interventions hold great promise for improving hypertension management and reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease worldwide.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1007/s10389-018-0982-9, Alternate LINK

Title: Utilization Of Short Message Service (Sms) In Non-Pharmacological Management Of Hypertension. A Pilot Study In An Urban Public Hospital Of Multan, Pakistan

Subject: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Journal: Journal of Public Health

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Anees Ur Rehman, Farrukh Naeem, Sameen Abbas, Fizzah Ashfaq, Mohamed Azmi Ahmad Hassali

Published: 2018-09-29

Everything You Need To Know

How can SMS (short message service) assist in managing hypertension?

SMS can assist in managing hypertension by providing regular reminders and educational information to patients. These messages promote adherence to healthy lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, and improve medication compliance. A pilot study showed that patients receiving SMS messages experienced better control of their hypertension compared to those receiving standard medical care alone. Specifically, the SMS intervention included educational messages about diet and exercise, reminder SMSs to take medications, and feedback collection to assess improvements.

What were the key findings of the study conducted in Multan, Pakistan, regarding SMS and hypertension?

The study conducted in Multan, Pakistan, revealed that SMS interventions significantly improved hypertension control among patients. The intervention group, which received regular SMS messages, experienced a notable decrease in both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) compared to the control group. The SBP in the intervention group declined by 8 mmHg, and DBP declined by 6 mmHg, while the control group showed a more modest decrease of 2 mmHg in SBP and 3 mmHg in DBP. This suggests that SMS can be a valuable tool for enhancing adherence to non-pharmacological treatment approaches and improving patient compliance.

Beyond medication, what non-pharmacological strategies are crucial for managing hypertension, and how does SMS support these approaches?

Lifestyle modifications, including diet and exercise, are crucial non-pharmacological strategies for managing hypertension. SMS supports these approaches by delivering regular educational messages that reinforce the importance of healthy eating habits and physical activity. By receiving these reminders and informational texts, patients are more likely to adhere to recommended lifestyle changes, which can significantly impact their blood pressure levels. Without these supportive measures, patients may find it challenging to maintain consistent adherence to these vital lifestyle adjustments.

What is the potential global impact of using SMS for hypertension management, and what are the implications for reducing cardiovascular diseases?

The use of SMS for hypertension management has the potential to significantly reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. By improving patient adherence to both medication and lifestyle modifications through regular reminders and education, SMS interventions can lead to better blood pressure control and a decreased risk of CVD-related events. Given that CVDs are the leading cause of death globally, with a substantial portion occurring in resource-limited settings, SMS offers a cost-effective and accessible means of addressing this major health challenge on a large scale. The study published in the Journal of Public Health supports this by highlighting SMS as a valuable tool for enhancing adherence to non-pharmacological treatment approaches.

How did researchers measure the effectiveness of SMS interventions on hypertension management, and what specific data was collected?

Researchers measured the effectiveness of SMS interventions on hypertension management by comparing the blood pressure changes between an intervention group (receiving SMS messages) and a control group (receiving standard medical care). The specific data collected included systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) measurements at the beginning and end of the study period. Additionally, researchers collected patient feedback to assess improvements in adherence to medication and lifestyle recommendations. By analyzing the changes in SBP and DBP, along with patient feedback, the researchers were able to determine the impact of SMS on hypertension control and patient compliance.