The world health organization—International society of hypertension blood pressure lowering treatment trialists’ collaboration: Prospective collaborative overviews of major randomized trials of blood pressure-lowering treatments

1999 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 346-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Neal ◽  
Stephen MacMahon
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
International Society ◽  
Randomized Trials ◽  
World Health ◽  
Blood Pressure Lowering ◽  
The World ◽  
Pressure Lowering ◽  
Health Organization

Sodium and potassium intake, blood pressure, and cardiovascular prevention

ESC CardioMed ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 2431-2444
Author(s):  
Francesco P. Cappuccio
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Salt Intake ◽  
World Health ◽  
Salt Reduction ◽  
Potassium Intake ◽  
Salt Consumption ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Salt consumption is now much greater than needed for survival. High salt intake increases blood pressure in both animals and humans. Conversely, a reduction in salt intake causes a dose-dependent reduction in blood pressure in men and women of all ages and ethnic groups, and in patients already on medication. The risk of strokes and heart attacks rises with increasing blood pressure, but can be decreased by antihypertensive drugs. However, most cardiovascular disease events occur in individuals with ‘normal’ blood pressure levels. Non-pharmacological prevention is therefore the only option to reduce such events. Reduction in population salt intake reduces the number of vascular events. It is one of the most important public health measures to reduce the global cardiovascular burden. Salt reduction policies are powerful, rapid, equitable, and cost saving. The World Health Organization recommends reducing salt consumption below 5 g per day aiming at a global 30% reduction by 2025. A high potassium intake lowers blood pressure in people with and without hypertension. Its beneficial effects extend beyond blood pressure, and may include a reduction in the risk of stroke (independent of blood pressure changes). Potassium intake in the Western world is relatively low, and a lower potassium intake is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, especially stroke. A moderate increase in potassium intake, either as supplement or with diet, reduces blood pressure, and the World Health Organization has issued global recommendations for a target dietary potassium intake of at least 90 mmol/day (≥3510 mg/day) for adults.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document