Excess dietary salt intake represents a predominant cause of hypertension. The kidneys normally regulate the body's salt balance by retaining sodium and water and excreting potassium. Imbalances in this kidney function can expand blood volumes, which can cause high blood pressure.
One-third of the world's population has hypertension and it is responsible for almost 50% of deaths from stroke or coronary heart disease. Salt sensitivity, independent of blood pressure, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.[8,9] A low-salt diet may not be beneficial to everyone and may paradoxically increase blood pressure in some individuals. Normotensive (normal blood pressure) salt-sensitive subjects aged >25 years were found to have a mortality rate similar to that of hypertensive (high blood pressure) subjects, whereas salt-resistant normotensive subjects had increased survival.8
Several gene variants have been associated with hypertension and/or salt sensitivity. These genes are usually associated with the regulation of vascular resistance and renal sodium transport.
Related to:
Sodium chloride, Hypertenstion