Sodium-potassium balance in the regulation of high blood pressure

The World Health Organization considers essential hypertension as a primary cause of death. Twenty-five percent of the population over 15 has high blood pressure (HBP), equivalent to a billion people. It has been predicted that this group will increase by 60%, lineal with age increase in the overall...

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Main Authors: Luis Hernán Zárate Méndez, Alex Valenzuela Montero
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medwave Estudios Limitada 2012-02-01
Series:Medwave
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.5867/medwave.2012.02.5301
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author Luis Hernán Zárate Méndez
Alex Valenzuela Montero
author_facet Luis Hernán Zárate Méndez
Alex Valenzuela Montero
author_sort Luis Hernán Zárate Méndez
collection DOAJ
description The World Health Organization considers essential hypertension as a primary cause of death. Twenty-five percent of the population over 15 has high blood pressure (HBP), equivalent to a billion people. It has been predicted that this group will increase by 60%, lineal with age increase in the overall population. Unfortunately, detection, treatment and effective control of HBP, are deficient both in Chile and in the rest of the world, making it an unresolved health problem demanding urgent attention. The recently conducted Chilean National Health Survey (2009-2010) revealed a 26.9% prevalence of this condition in the population, sixty-five percent of individuals are aware of their condition, 37.6% are in treatment and only 16,49% are effectively controlled. Furthermore, the survey reveals unhealthy life-style markers, which explains the epidemic that besets the country as there are multiple risk factors at stake. This review focuses mainly on the importance of the sodium-potassium relationship in the regulation of high blood pressure. It must be pointed out that all of the studies underscore the importance of sodium in the genesis of hypertension because of its effects of blood pressure, especially in sensitive individuals, while little attention has been given to the manifold beneficial actions of potassium in the regulation of blood pressure.
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spelling doaj.art-1d95c8b1fa13435aaf6a46326a137be62022-12-21T18:27:09ZengMedwave Estudios LimitadaMedwave0717-63842012-02-011202e5301Sodium-potassium balance in the regulation of high blood pressureLuis Hernán Zárate MéndezAlex Valenzuela MonteroThe World Health Organization considers essential hypertension as a primary cause of death. Twenty-five percent of the population over 15 has high blood pressure (HBP), equivalent to a billion people. It has been predicted that this group will increase by 60%, lineal with age increase in the overall population. Unfortunately, detection, treatment and effective control of HBP, are deficient both in Chile and in the rest of the world, making it an unresolved health problem demanding urgent attention. The recently conducted Chilean National Health Survey (2009-2010) revealed a 26.9% prevalence of this condition in the population, sixty-five percent of individuals are aware of their condition, 37.6% are in treatment and only 16,49% are effectively controlled. Furthermore, the survey reveals unhealthy life-style markers, which explains the epidemic that besets the country as there are multiple risk factors at stake. This review focuses mainly on the importance of the sodium-potassium relationship in the regulation of high blood pressure. It must be pointed out that all of the studies underscore the importance of sodium in the genesis of hypertension because of its effects of blood pressure, especially in sensitive individuals, while little attention has been given to the manifold beneficial actions of potassium in the regulation of blood pressure.http://dx.doi.org/10.5867/medwave.2012.02.5301
spellingShingle Luis Hernán Zárate Méndez
Alex Valenzuela Montero
Sodium-potassium balance in the regulation of high blood pressure
Medwave
title Sodium-potassium balance in the regulation of high blood pressure
title_full Sodium-potassium balance in the regulation of high blood pressure
title_fullStr Sodium-potassium balance in the regulation of high blood pressure
title_full_unstemmed Sodium-potassium balance in the regulation of high blood pressure
title_short Sodium-potassium balance in the regulation of high blood pressure
title_sort sodium potassium balance in the regulation of high blood pressure
url http://dx.doi.org/10.5867/medwave.2012.02.5301
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