Salt and Hypertension

Abstract

Based on tight relationship between salt and hypertension, characteristic features of salt-sensitive hypertension will be reviewed. As blood pressure becomes elevated more sensitively to salt intake, glomerular capillary pressure is more elevated and night-time reduction in blood pressure is more diminished, resulting in glomerular hypertension and nondipper type of circadian blood pressure rhythm. In this way, organ damage including stroke is enhanced in saltsensitive hypertension. Salt intake restriction, on the other hand, is expected to reduce cardiovascular events, especially in salt sensitive hypertension.