Abstract
Sympathetic nervous system activity was studied in 38 patients with essential hypertension during high- and low-sodium diets. Salt restriction was associated with a modest (6 mmHg) decline in mean arterial pressure, while the urinary excretion of catecholamines, metanephrines, and vanillylmandelic acid increased significantly. Plasma renin activity also increased. It is concluded that short-term low-sodium diet therapy for essential hypertension results in only small decrements in mean arterial pressure and may be limited in hypotensive effect by activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Support is offered for the rationale of sympatholytic drug therapy as an initial step in the management of hypertensive patients requiring arterial pressure reductions greater than those afforded by diet alone.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
