Texting Helps Lower Cholesterol, Blood Pressure: Study

A recent study has proven that text messaging, as simple as it is, actually helps lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that the simple act of texting actually helps lower bad cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and smoking habits of patients with coronary heart disease. Findings also indicated that texting encourages more physical activity, which lowers body mass indexes.

"I have to say, we were pretty surprised that it worked," said Clara Chow, lead author of the study and program director of community-based cardiac services at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Australia, as per NPR.

The TEXTME (Tobacco, Exercise and Diet Messages) trial involved 710 patients, all of them having coronary heart disease. They were divided into two groups: with the intervention group (352 participants) receiving four text messages per week in addition to the usual care, and the control group (358) only receiving the usual care without text messages. The trial period lasted six months.

The text messages provided personalized advice, motivational reminders, and support to change lifestyle behavior. It has to be noted, however, that the program was not interactive—the participants were not required to respond to the texts.

After the six-month period, the researchers found surprising results: those who received texts had significantly lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) "bad" cholesterol levels compared to those who didn't receive any text. Additionally, their blood pressure levels and BMIs were lower, and smoking was reported to be significantly lessened as well.

The participants reported a high satisfaction rate. Ninety-one percent said it was useful, 97 percent said it was easy to understand, and 86 percent said it was appropriate in frequency.

"People said things like, 'It wasn't actually what the messages said, it was that someone was there supporting me, thinking about me,'" said Chow.

Not only did the study results proved that simple text messaging can be helpful, it also shows that low-cost methods like texting can suffice.

"I like to look for things that are able to be used in multiple corners of our world, from low-income settings to high-income settings," said Chow. "Everybody owns a mobile phone these days. You don't have to have a smartphone to text."

Text messaging is the most utilized function in any cell phone in America. And with more than 91 percent of Americans owning a cell phone, this common habit is probably the most accessible but scientifically proven cost-effective way to help in the fight against heart disease.

"Heaps of [the participants] replied to us," added Chow. "They would say, 'Thanks for the message. I've been on my walk, my blood pressure is better.'"