Do not be caught out because of a failure to appreciate the connection between salt and hypertension.

Salt is a very important element in our diet and has been in use for many thousands of years as both a preservative and to give added taste to our food. Indeed, in spite of the fact that many people in the West take it for granted, in a significant number of countries it is a major economic commodity and many readers will no doubt remember the important role played by salt in bringing British rule in India to and end in the middle of the last century.

Unfortunately however salt can also be a major contributory factor when it comes to the problem of high blood pressure.

Salt is a compound composed of sodium and chloride and when we are considering high blood pressure it is the quantity of sodium we eat that needs to be watched.

Initially it may seem that controlling your salt intake is merely a question of monitoring the quantity of salt which you put into your food while you are cooking and which you add to your food at the table. But, the true problem rests in the fact that most of the salt in our diet is found in the processed foods which most of us purchase and eat every day.

To ensure that you minimize your risk of high blood pressure you should keep your intake of salt under the government's recommended daily consumption figure of 2,400 milligrams and here are just a few tips to help you do just that:

? Do not put salt on the|Remove salt from your} table. As long as you are getting a properly balanced diet your food will contain enough salt without any need to add more while eating, so simply remove the salt from your table.

? Learn how to to read food labels. Food labeling laws and most foods now carry nutritional information including the quantity of sodium which the food in question contains. You need to read the label very carefully though as often the sodium figure shown will apply to the whole pack or tin and sometimes it will apply to a single serving.

? Buy sodium free or low sodium products. An increasing range of foods today come in sodium free or low sodium options and, where possible, you should choose these over the regular product.

? Purchase low salt snacks. The majority of us like to snack but try to stick to things such as vegetables and fruit and, if you cannot live without your crisps, purchase varieties which are low in sodium or salt free.}

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I have recently (4 days ago) begun medication for postpartum hypertension. I have a home automatic blood pressure machine. The last several times I have taken it, I took it twice in a row, and got different numbers from the first time, BUT the second number is pretty consistent. My numbers have been
:
1. 119/99, then 123/83 (Yesterday morning)
2. 136/90, then 123/83 (Yesterday afternoon)
3. 130/96, then 123/86 (Yesterday evening)
4. 130/89, then 121/90, then 116/81 (This morning)

So do I pay attention more to the first, or subsequent readings?

The two trials are just a few minutes apart.

Thanks!

Learn how to treat hypertension and high blood pressure withacupuncture with expert alternative care tips in this free online Chinese medicine video clip. Expert: Sarah and Sig Hauer Bio: Sarah and Sig Hauer recently returned to the southwest after selling their practice in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. They were voted Best Acupuncture Physicians by their community in 2002 and 2003. Filmmaker: Danniel Fishler

One in four Americans will probably need high blood pressure medication at some point in their lives, so it's helpful to learn the basics of these drugs.Watch More Health Videos at Health Guru: www.healthguru.com