High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common problem. It affects one in five Americans. High blood pressure is a pattern of consistently elevated blood pressure as determined by several blood pressure measurements using the same equipment under relaxed conditions. Blood pressure readings measure the amount of pressure exerted on arteries during two phases of the heartbeat, contraction and resting. Normal BP is 140 over 90 or less.

A diagnosis of high blood pressure is a serious matter, although it usually does not give any warning signals until serious damage has been done. Left untreated, high blood pressure increases the risk of strokes, heart disease and kidney failure. In most cases, there is no easily identified cause for elevated blood pressure.

Researchers have produced high blood pressure in test animals by feeding them a high salt diet. It is a well established fact that the sodium in salt and processed foods increases blood pressure in most people, once the diagnosis of high blood pressure has been made. Salt naturally contains more sodium than any other food in the human diet. Salt serves as both a preservative and a flavor enhancer in foods.

Salt (or sodium) plays an important role in the commercial production and preservation of food products. When sodium is isolated from salt, it is tasteless. Therefore, processed foods can be high in sodium without tasting salty.

Experts do not claim that salt is the sole cause of high blood pressure, but if you are salt sensitive it is a real hazard. Recent research suggests that individuals vary greatly in their response to sodium. However, at this time there is no reliable means for distinguishing highly salt sensitive patients from those who are less sensitive. According to the 1999 John Hopkins White Paper on Hypertension, sodium may be more detrimental to blood pressure in the elderly (over 60) than younger patients.

The researchers also concluded that a high salt diet has no known health benefits. In light of these findings, experts advise patients to maintain their intakes at low to moderate levels. A healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and whole grains and moderate amounts of animal protein was also very effective in reducing blood pressure. The dietary information is one of the most significant recent advances in the field of hypertension prevention. In the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) trial investigators found significant improvement in blood pressure by making certain dietary changes in patients (for more information, see the following resources.)

Avoiding salt (sodium) in processed foods has been made easier by labeling laws, which require manufacturers to determine the level of sodium per serving. The Nutrition Facts panel on processed foods states the amount of sodium in a suggested serving, not the amount in the entire package.

Because sodium is tasteless, reading the label is your best defense against eating too much sodium. For example, a serving of pancakes (2 pancakes) prepared from a mix can contain 3 to 4 times more sodium than a serving of salted peanuts. The pancakes do not taste salty but the peanuts do. Remember salt is not the dietary villain, rather it is sodium.

Obesity, age, existing chronic disease, high blood cholesterol, race, as well as other factors heighten the risk of high blood pressure. Weight loss has been proven to be very effective in the treatment of high blood pressure. Drug therapy (prescribed medications), life-style changes (diet and exercise) and behavior changes (reduced stress) can be equally important. A "treatment program" consisting of several parts has been most successful in reducing the death rate due to high blood pressure.

With early, if not lifelong treatment, one can survive high blood pressure. Simply popping a pill as prescribed by your doctor is not very effective. Working with your doctor in finding the treatment program that works best for you is important. Research indicates that 30 to 40 percent of patients with poorly controlled high blood pressure suffer strokes, heart attacks and kidney failure because they do not stick to their treatment program.

Poor compliance is understandable since many patients have no symptoms and are expected to make undesirable lifestyle changes and take costly medications that may cause unpleasant side effects. Remember those who have gone before you. High blood pressure isn't called the "silent killer" for nothing.

For more information on high blood pressure and the latest treatment methods, visit the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute website at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/index.htm or call the center at 800-575-WELL

 

Autumn 1999
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