Every third adult in North America has high blood pressure. These hypertensives are three times more likely to have a heart attack, five times more likely to develop heart failure, and eight times more likely to suffer a stroke than people with normal blood pressure.
Defining hypertension
Hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure reading (the top number) consistently over 140, and/or a diastolic (lower number) reading of 90 or above. The optimal level is now 120/80 mmHg. Even though high blood pressure has no symptoms (that’s why it’s called the silent disease), it can cause progressive changes in the blood vessels until the first sign hits, usually a stroke or a heart attack.
Causes of Hypertension
Certain kinds of tumors will do it; also diseases within the kidney itself. But in 90 percent of everyday hypertension, no specific organic causes can be determined. It’s for this reason that this common kind of hypertension is called essential hypertension.
The following factors contribute to essential hypertension:
• High Salt/Sodium Intake. Surprisingly, hypertension is uncommon in populations whose salt intake is very low. In countries with high salt intake, however (as in Japan), the disease is epidemic. Americans consume, on average, in excess of 10 grams of salt per day. That’s over two teaspoons full, or about 10 times the amount of salt that the body actually needs! And it's the sodium in salt (Sodium Chloride) that is responsible for the effect on blood pressure. Every gram of salt contains .4 gm of sodium. Or every 1,000 mg of salt contains 400 mg of sodium.
• Low Potassium. The potassium/sodium ratio is of critical importance. Eating more vegetables while reducing salt would greatly increase this ratio and lower elevated blood pressures.
• Obesity. Nearly everyone who is significantly overweight will eventually experience high blood pressure. It’s usually just a matter of time.
• Arterial Plaque. Narrowed and plugged arteries force the body to boost the blood pressure in order to deliver necessary oxygen and food to body cells.
• Lack of Exercise.
• Smoking.
• Alcohol. Scientific studies have demonstrated that even moderate use of alcohol may account for 5 to 15 percent of all hypertension.
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Two Side-bar Quotes
“Sodium is essential for body metabolism. But too much can cause trouble. Excess sodium can stay in the body tissues and hold extra water. This causes swelling, which raises the blood pressure, which in turn increases stress on the heart.”
“Americans eat more than 10 times the amount of salt their bodies need. And they pay for it with high blood pressure, heart failure, and other problems related to fluid retention.”