Hypertension

Hypertension

Blood pressure levels are a function of

cardiac output multiplied by peripheral
resistance (the resistance in the blood
vessels to the flow of blood)

Hypertension

The major factors which help maintain

blood pressure (BP) include the sympathetic
nervous system and the kidneys.
Optimal healthy blood pressure is a systolic
blood pressure of <120 mmHg and a
diastolic blood pressure of <80
<120/80.

Hypertension
Category

Systolic Blood
Pressure

Diastolic Blood
Pressure

Normal

< 120

<80

Pre-hypertension

120-139

80-89

Hypertension
Stage 1

140-159

90-99

Hypertension
Stage 2

>160

>100

Hypertension

Approximately one in four American adults

has hypertension.
As many as 2.8 million children also have
high blood pressure.
The prevalence of hypertension increases
with age.

Prevalence of Hypertension by
Age

Age

18-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-79
80+

% Hypertensive

4
11
21
44
54
64
65

Hypertension

When the normal regulatory mechanisms

fail, hypertension develops.
Hypertension is so dangerous because it
gives off no warning signs or symptoms.

Untreated

hypertension can result in:

Arteriosclerosis
Heart Attack
Enlarged

heart

--Kidney damage
--Stroke
--Blindness

Factors Influencing the Development of

Hypertension

High-normal blood pressure

Family history of hypertension
African-American ancestry
Overweight

Factors Influencing the Development of

Hypertension

Excess Consumption of Sodium Chloride

Certain segments of the population

are salt sensitive because their
blood pressure is affected by salt
consumption

Factors Influencing the Development of

Hypertension

Alcohol consumption

Factors Influencing the Development of

Hypertension

Exercise

Less active individuals are 3050% more likely to develop

hypertension.

Factors Influencing the Development of

Hypertension-lack of adequate daily
intake of
Other

Dietary Factors

Potassium:
Calcium:
Magnesium:

Treatment for Hypertension

Maintain a healthy weight, lose weight if

overweight.
Be more physically active.
Drink alcoholic beverages in moderation.
Reduce the intake of salt and sodium in the
diet to approximately 2400 mg/day.

The DASH Diet

The Dietary Approaches to Stop

Hypertension clinical trial (DASH)

Diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low fat

dairy foods, can substantially lower blood
pressure in individuals with hypertension
and high normal blood pressure.

Dash Study

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits

and vegetables increased to 8.5 servings

K and Mg to 75%

Combination:
Add

2-3 servings low-fat dairy to fruit & vegetable

diet.
Ca, K and Mg increased to 75%

Dash Study Outcomes

Fruit and Vegetable Diet:

Decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in

entire study group and in the hypertensive subgroup.

Combination Diet:

Significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic

blood pressure in both groups.
Greatest drop was in systolic BP in hypertensive
group (11.4 mmHg)

Dash Diet Implications

Combination diet affects comparable to

pharmacological trails in mild hypertension.
Population wide reductions in blood
pressure similar to DASH results would
reduce CHD by ~ 15% and stroke by ~27%
Great potential in susceptible groups:
African Americans and elderly.

The DASH Diet

The DASH Diet includes:

7-8 servings of grains and grain products

4-5 servings of vegetables
4-5 servings of fruits
2-3 servings of low fat dairy products
2 or less servings of meat, poultry and fish
2-3 servings of fats and oils
Nuts, seeds and dry beans 4-5 times /week
Limited sweets low in fat.

Sodium in Foods

Conversion of milligrams to
milliequivalents (mEq):

mg/atomic weight x valence = mEq.

Atomic weight sodium = 23, valence = 1

2400 mg/23 x 1 = 104.3 mEq sodium

Reducing Sodium in the Diet

Use fresh poultry, fish and lean meat,

rather than canned or processed.
Buy fresh, plain frozen or canned with no
salt added vegetables.
Use herbs, spices and salt-free seasoning
blends in cooking and at the table; decrease
or eliminate use of table salt.
Choose convenience foods that are lower
in sodium.

Reducing Sodium in the Diet

When available, buy low- or reducedsodium or no-salt-added versions of foods

like:

Canned soup, canned vegetables, vegetable

juices
cheeses, lower in fat
condiments like soy sauce
crackers and snack foods like nuts
processed lean meats

Food Labels
Claim

Amount

Low Sodium

>140 mg/serving

Very Low Sodium

>35 mg/serving

Sodium Free

>5 mg/serving

Reduced Sodium

25% less than original