THE EFFECT OF DARK CHOCOLATE CONSUMPTION TO LOWERING BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE ELDERLY WITH HIPERTENSION: CASE REPORT
Abstract
Introduction: Hypertension is a disease of the cardiovascular system with a prevalence that continues to increase rapidly, especially in several developing countries including Indonesia. The incidence of hypertension tends to be high in the elderly as a degenerative effect that occurs with age. The main cause of uncontrolled hypertension in the elderly is that elderly people with hypertension refuse to undergo treatment, so the blood pressure in their body becomes uncontrollable. This is because elderly people cannot tolerate the side effects experienced after taking blood pressure medication. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce another alternative therapy to treat hypertension in the elderly, namely by consuming dark chocolate. Purpose: Knowing the effect of eating dark chocolate to reduce blood pressure in elderly people with hypertension. Methods: Case study by applying implementation according to evidencebased practice in nursing care. In the intervention session, respondents will be asked to consume 72% dark chocolate as much as 30 grams for 7 consecutive days. The tool used to measure blood pressure is an automatic Sphygmomanometer. Keywords used: dark chocolate, hypertension, and elderly. Discussion: Dark chocolate contains flavonoids that are thought to increase endothelial nitric oxide, improve the elasticity of blood vessels and blood circulation. The benefits of flavonoids can also lower blood pressure in elderly people suffering from high blood pressure. Conclusion: There is an effect of giving dark chocolate on lowering blood pressure in elderly people with hypertension based on the results of blood pressure measurements before and after the intervention during the intervention period. the results of blood pressure measurements before and after giving the intervention for 7 days.
References
Case, D. (2013). Captopril and hypertension. Springer Science & Business Media.
Hari, T. Y. S., Sudha, T. Y. S., Varghese, A. M., Sasanka, K. K., & Thangaraju, P. (2021). A study of risk factors and complications in elderly hypertensive subjects. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 10(6), 2230.
Hooper, L., Kroon, P. A., Rimm, E. B., Cohn, J. S., Harvey, I., Le Cornu, K. A., Ryder, J. J., Hall, W. L., & Cassidy, A. (2008). Flavonoids, flavonoid-rich foods, and cardiovascular risk: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 88(1), 38–50.
Khotimah, K. (2023). Gambaran Kejadian Hipertensi Pada Lansia Di Desa Adisara Kecamatan Jatilawang Kabupaten Banyumas Tahun 2022. Jurnal Bina Cipta Husada, 19(1), 37–46.
Rosari, F. (2014). Diagnosis and management of hypertension in the elderly patient. Jurnal Majority, 3(7).
Saribu, H. J. D., Rahman, Z., & Wulandari, D. (2021). PENGARUH PEMBERIAN DARK CHOCOLATE TERHADAP TEKANAN DARAH LANSIA PENDERITA HIPERTENSI DI RUMAH BAHAGIA BINTAN. Menara Medika. https://www.jurnal.umsb.ac.id/index.php/menaramedika/article/view/2806
Shin, J., & Kim, K. (2022). A clinical algorithm to determine target blood pressure in the elderly: evidence and limitations from a clinical perspective. Clinical Hypertension, 28(1), 17.
Udjianti, W. J. (2010). Keperawatan kardiovaskular. Jakarta: Salemba Medika, 2.
Wardani, D., & Adriani, P. (2022). Aplikasi Pemberian Terapi Relaksasi Autogenik Terhadap Perubahan Tingkat Nyeri Akut Pasien Hipertensi. Indonesian Journal of Professional Nursing, 3(1), 7–12.
Widyarani, L. (2019). Pengaruh Pemberian Jus Tomat (Solanum Lycopersicum) terhadap Tekanan Darah pada Lansia Penderita Hipertensi Stadium I. Jurnal Kesehatan Hesti Wira Sakti, 7(1), 1–8.
Wirakhmi, I. N., & Purnawan, I. (2021). Hubungan kepatuhan minum obat dengan tekanan darah pada penderita hipertensi. Jurnal Ilmu Keperawatan Dan Kebidanan, 12(2), 327–333.
Kampus keperawatan unsoed 
