Biomaterial Database

Salt, hypertension, and genetic-environmental interactions. 1979

R R Williams, and P N Hopkins

Observations relating to hypertension in humans and rat experiments have been reviewed from several viewpoints including clinical medicine, pathophysiology, epidemiology, and genetics. It seems likely that much of essential hypertension results from excessive salt intake by individuals with an inherited inability to excrete sodium efficiently which is compensated by blood pressure elevation. A few major genes are likely responsible for a few basic mechanisms involving renal membranes and hormones controlling sodium transport. Excess hypertension in blacks, diabetics, the elderly, and oral contraceptive users can be explained by this theory. If hypertension and other genetically predisposed CHD risk factors are to be fully understood, future studies are needed with detailed data on both genetic and environmental factors, and analytic tools that allow an adequate examination of their interactions.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006973	Hypertension	Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more.	Blood Pressure, High,Blood Pressures, High,High Blood Pressure,High Blood Pressures
D001794	Blood Pressure	PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS.	Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D004777	Environment	The external elements and conditions which surround, influence, and affect the life and development of an organism or population.	Environmental Impact,Environmental Impacts,Impact, Environmental,Impacts, Environmental,Environments
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012964	Sodium	A member of the alkali group of metals. It has the atomic symbol Na, atomic number 11, and atomic weight 23.	Sodium Ion Level,Sodium-23,Ion Level, Sodium,Level, Sodium Ion,Sodium 23
D014655	Vascular Resistance	The force that opposes the flow of BLOOD through a vascular bed. It is equal to the difference in BLOOD PRESSURE across the vascular bed divided by the CARDIAC OUTPUT.	Peripheral Resistance,Total Peripheral Resistance,Pulmonary Vascular Resistance,Systemic Vascular Resistance,Peripheral Resistance, Total,Resistance, Peripheral,Resistance, Pulmonary Vascular,Resistance, Systemic Vascular,Resistance, Total Peripheral,Resistance, Vascular,Vascular Resistance, Pulmonary,Vascular Resistance, Systemic