Salt sensitivity and hypertension in African Americans: implications for cardiovascular nurses.
Hypertension is a major public health problem in the U.S. Salt sensitivity is an important factor associated with hypertension and its complications, yet it has not been addressed in the nursing literature. Salt sensitivity is a directionally appropriate rise or fall in blood pressure when salt is added or removed, respectively. The change in blood pressure in salt-sensitive subjects occurs to a degree exceeding random blood pressure fluctuations. Salt sensitivity is present in 30% of normotensive and over 50% of hypertensive persons. It is more prevalent among African Americans, older persons, and individuals with renal insufficiency or diabetes. This paper provides nurses with an overview of salt sensitivity and its significance in hypertension. It presents conceptual and operational definitions of salt sensitivity, identifies factors contributing to its development, and describes implications for nursing practice.
Peters
R M
RM
Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43614-5803, USA.
Flack
J M
JM
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013041:Specialties, Nursing; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary