UH3 Phase - Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB-BP) : Stage 2a RCT

MB-BP customizes Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to participants with hypertension. It consists of nine 2.5-hour weekly group sessions \& a 7.5-hour one-day session. Content includes education on hypertension risk factors, hypertension health effects, \& specific mindfulness modules focused on awareness of BP determinants such as diet, physical activity, anti-hypertensive medication adherence, alcohol consumption, \& stress reactivity. Students learn a range of mindfulness skills (body scan exercises, meditation and yoga). Participants are given a home BP monitor. Participants with uncontrolled hypertension are offered to have their physicians notified; for those without a physician, the investigator works to provide access within health insurance constraints.

Those in the control group receive an educational brochure from the American Heart Association (product code 50-1731) and a validated home blood pressure monitor (Omron, Model PB786N), that has an evidence-based approach to lower blood pressure. All participants who have uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure \>140/90 mmHg) will be offered to have their physicians notified, if not already being overseen for it. For participants with uncontrolled hypertension who do not have a physician, the investigator works to provide access within constraints of their health insurance. Additionally, participants randomized to the control group are asked to refrain from engaging in any type of formal mindfulness practice more than weekly during the first six months of study involvement.