Adulthood Nutritional Needs I

Question 1

Sodium and Hypertension: Characterization

Answer 1

• Sodium is an essential nutrient but it is needed in small quantities
• Linear does response to intake of sodium and the increase in blood pressure
• Contribution to heart disease and stroke
• Sodium pulls in water into the body. The kidney can regulate the blood pressure but cannot keep up with chronic intakes of sodium
• The increased volume from water leads to increased blood pressure (Hypertension). The blood vessels have to work harder to get oxygenated blood to your organs.
• The walls of the arteries begin to thicken reducing the space inside the blood vessels and constricts the flow of blood.
• Organs begin to have limited oxygenated blood such as the heart (angina and heart attack and the brain (stroke).

Question 2

Sodium and Hypertension: How to manage this?

Answer 2

• Dietary recommendations are 2300mg per day but average intake is around 4000 mg/day
• Treatment: Limit Salt Intake!
  *Avoid process meats and food products, select low sodium options, replace seasonings with salt with herbs instead
• Dietary Approaches to Stope Hypertension (DASH Diet)
  *Promotes dietary patterns that limit the intake of sodium
• Restriction depends on the severity of the hypertensive state
• Exercise at least 30 min per day
• Maintain a healthy body weight