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Medical authorities estimate that from 15-25% of Americans suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension. Our most conservative figure in this country is already over 25 million persons with hypertension. No single cause for this is proven. It appears that there are numerous types of hypertension, some related to chronic diseases and other patients with causes potentially reversible.

Salt ingestion is well known to be a risk factor in causing high blood pressure. More then four thousand years ago a Chinese by the name of Ch’i Po noted the “If too much salt is used in the food, the pulse hardens.” The average American consumes from 6-13 grams of salt daily. Some in Western countries and many in the Orient use as much as 18-24 grams of salt a day! The incidence of high blood pressure in a population is increased in proportion to the sodium intake of the diet. The Japanese illustrate this, with increasing strokes as their major cause of death.

Sodium chloride, or table salt, is hidden in many foods—soups, canned vegetables, crackers, dried meats. It consists of about 40% sodium and 60% chloride. A teaspoon of salt contains about 2.3 grams of sodium. Your body needs only 220 milligrams (about a 10th of a teaspoon) of sodium a day. Most experts recommend that you consume no more than a teaspoon of salt a day in your diet. Too much salt gets sprinkled on our food, often before even tasting it. Another portion appears in particularly salty types of foods, such as potato chips, salted nuts, and other snack foods. Prepared foods usually have their ingredients listed on the label in order of their proportion. Read the labels carefully; they may even have an analysis of sodium content printed with other nutrient values.

Not only is salt a problem, but other substances, such as baking soda, monosodium glutamate, and other sodium containing food additives will supply hidden forms of dietary salt. First, eliminate all added salt at the table—just remove the salt shaker. Next, cut back on excessively salty foods. These can easily bring down your sodium intake to approximately two grams per day. When you do buy processed foods read the labels. Choose those foods that are lower in sodium. Further restrict sodium by avoiding milk and milk products, even salty vegetables, such as celery, beets, and leafy greens.

If you plan carefully, and use only salt-free breads and cereals, it will be possible to lower the sodium intake to one gram. Periodically, for patients in congestive heart failure, even a stricter regulation of salt intake is necessary to prevent fluid retention and to lower the blood pressure. Fruit and most natural vegetables are very low in sodium. More and more dietetic foods are supplying the needs for convenience in packaging without the danger of hidden sodium content.

Symptoms of hypertension are variable. Most patients with high blood pressure have no symptoms at all. In actuality, well over half of the cases of high blood pressure in the Unites States are presently undetected. Physical symptoms such as headache, nosebleeds, visual disturbance, and signs of heart failure or kidney disease coexist in conjunction with high blood pressure.

Home measurement of blood pressure is simple and becoming more convenient. Nearly all pharmacies carry blood pressure cuffs (the sphygmomanometer) for home use, together with detailed directions. And coin operated blood pressure machines are available in many shopping centers. Numerous less common types of hypertension are surgically curable.

Tumors of the adrenal gland, such as the adrenaline producing pheochromocytoma and cortisone producing adenomas can cause hypertension, among other symptoms. A third type of adrenal tumor produces the hormone aldosterone, which increases sodium retention, thereby elevating the blood pressure. Chronic diseases of the kidneys, due whether to infection, nephritis, or congenital cysts can cause hypertension. Arteriosclerosis, which narrows the arteries to one or both kidneys, can also trigger a reninangiotensin hormonal cycle that results in high blood pressure. Specialized tests are needed to diagnose these “curable” hypertensive diseases. Nevertheless, all of these together comprise only 5% of the total hypertensive patients.

In addition to a salt restricted diet, the individual with hypertension must learn to control stress. Our emotions are profoundly related to the incidence of hypertension. Furthermore, these tendencies are aggravated by excessive noise, a harried schedule, lack of sleep, and lack of exercise. Most of the time, fortunately, adherence to these simple preventives can help a person regain good control of his blood pressure.

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