HEx significantly decreased systolic and diastolic ABPM, respectively,
in the 24-hour period (19.5 ± 11.0 and 11.1 ± 3.1 mm Hg), daytime
(22.3 ± 12.6 and 13.0 ± 3.6 mm Hg) and nighttime (17.4 ± 9.1 and
8.5 ± 2.1 mm Hg) (Fig. 3A). In the control group, there was a significant
increase in systolic and diastolic BPs, respectively (24-hour:
3.0 ± 0.1 and 2.1 ± 1.2 mm Hg; daytime: 4.4 ± 2.2 and 3.5 ±
2.1 mm Hg and nighttime diastolic 3.1 ± 1.9 mm Hg) (Fig. 3B). Fig. 4A
and B shows systolic and diastolic curves during 24-hour ABPM at baseline
and after 12 weeks in both groups, respectively. HEx significantly
lowered the hourly average systolic and diastolic BPs in the study
group, but BP did not change in the control group.