Hypertension, or high blood pressure is a high risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease, heart attacks, strokes, congestive heart failure and renal disease.  Approximately 50 million people have high blood pressure and thus are at increase risk for these conditions.  Treatment of this condition through diet, exercise, and, in some cases medication, is vital. In overweight individual, weight reduction is recommended to assist in lowering blood pressure.  Decreasing sodium intake in salt sensitive individuals can contribute to lowering elevated blood pressure. Low calcium availability may also contribute to hypertension.

Diagnosis

Mild or severe hypertension depends on the degree of elevation of both the systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) blood pressures.  Approximately 6-12% of the United States population has essential hypertension without a known cause.  Approximately 4-8% of the population has secondary hypertension due to another disease state such as renal, liver, or endocrine disease.

• Heart attack

• Stroke

• Congestive heart failure

• Kidney disease

Medical Nutrition Therapy

The goal of Medical Nutrition Therapy for hypertension is to achieve optimal blood pressure by providing adequate consumption of calories, carbohydrate, protein, fat, fiber, and micronutrients to achieve and maintain a reasonable body weight.

An individualized program for Medical Nutrition Therapy to consider is current weight, and lab analysis including magnesium, electrolytes (plasma, serum, or urine), glucose, and mineral analysis. Some individuals will lower their blood pressure by avoiding salt (sodium chloride) due to salt sensitivity. Some will benefit by including therapeutic nutritional supplements such as calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, Coenzyme Q10, Omega 3 fatty acids or other important as part of therapy. Exercise is another very important part of blood pressure control.

After 12 weeks of sodium restriction and weight loss:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/