The Relationship Between Disease & Nutrition for High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is one potential precursor to heart disease. It can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular diseases.

Definition

• High blood pressure is an increase in pressure inside the arteries, the vessels that carry blood to the heart. Measured using two numbers, doctors define high blood pressure as anything higher than 140/90.

Causes

• There are many causes of high blood pressure, including some that are nutrition-related. High sodium intake and drinking more than moderate amounts of alcohol daily have both been implicated as causes of hypertension.

DASH Diet Plan

• Scientists from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) developed the DASH diet plan after two large-scale studies on diet and hypertension. The diet emphasizes low sodium and low fat foods and was shown to lower blood pressure levels according to a 2006 review in the Nutrition Review journal.

Prevention

• Dietary changes can also prevent high blood pressure according to a 2004 study in the Public Health Nutrition journal. Polyunsaturated fats, potassium, fruits and vegetables were all shown to be protective.

Other Considerations

• Treating high blood pressure with diet alone isn't as effective as including daily exercise with the dietary changes.