title: Blood pressure and sodium balance in hypertensive patients in hospital.
abstract: Ninety-one subjects with uncomplicated essential hypertension were admitted to hospital. They received a diet with a fixed amount of sodium (55 mmol/day), without calorie restriction. Blood pressure was measured at 2-hr intervals and averaged for each day. In patients who apparently adhered to a low salt diet before admission (group I), BP dropped 5 mmHg during the first 24 hr and then remained stable. In patients who previously ingested more salt (group II) a similar drop in pressure occurred during the first day, but pressure declined another 6 mmHg during the second day, to stabilize thereafter. Both neurovegetative and sodium-dependent factors appear to contribute to the decrease in BP while the patient is in hospital.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium