Effect of inheritance and stress on the diurnal excretion of sodium and potassium in young people with and without a family history of hypertension.

Abstract

1. The diurnal excretion of sodium and potassium was observed in young people, with and without a genetic predisposition to hypertension, both in the presence and absence of psychological stress. 2. In the absence of stress, the normal day/night sodium excretion ratio was reversed in the children of hypertensive parents. This was significantly less than day/night sodium excretion in children of normotensive parents. A similar finding was observed for day/night potassium excretion. 3. There was a significant negative correlation between systolic blood pressure and day/night sodium excretion in children of hypertensive parents but not in children of normotensive parents. 4. After the mental stress of a University examination day/night sodium reverted to normal in children of hypertensive parents.