- Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects an estimated 1.28 billion adults worldwide, many in low and middle-income countries.
- If blood pressure is not controlled, it can increase the risk of heart, brain, and kidney diseases.
- One common but less known cause of hypertension is salt sensitivity — where the body fails to excrete excess salt.
- A new review has found that women of all ages are more salt sensitive than men, which may have implications for blood pressure control.
According to the
There are several well-known factors that increase the risk of hypertension. These include:
- Age: Hypertension is more common over the age of 65
- Ethnicity:
Some ethnic groups are more prone to hypertension than others - Weight:
Obesity is a primary risk factor for hypertension - Regular
alcohol and tobacco use - Sex: males have a higher risk of developing hypertension than females. However, this is only until females reach menopause
- Existing health conditions: Cardiovascular disease, diabetes,
chronic kidney disease , and high cholesterol levels can lead to hypertension, especially as people age
A less recognized factor that can drive up blood pressure is salt sensitivity — the tendency of the body to hold onto salt rather than excrete it through the kidneys.
A review of epidemiological data published in
“The most important fact highlighted in this review article is that women, whether pre or postmenopausal, are more salt sensitive than men.”
— Dr. Eric Belin de Chantemèle, study author and physiologist at the Vascular Biology Center at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.
Salt comprises around 40% sodium ions and…
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