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What Role Does Potassium Play in Blood Pressure? A Detailed Review
A high salt diet increases the risk of hypertension. However, a recent review has shown that taking adequate potassium might play an equally important role in maintaining healthy blood pressure.
High blood pressure is also known as hypertension. It affects over a billion people worldwide. Studies have shown that over 75 million of these are Americans.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hypertension contributes to over 45% of heart disease deaths and 51% stroke-related deaths.
Recent studies have demonstrated that eating a high salt diet (which translates to eating sodium) can cause hypertension.
The latest review, documented in the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, shows that taking in excess sodium is not the most important dietary factor; potassium plays an important role.
The role of potassium
Potassium, like sodium, is an electrolyte. It is necessary for the transmission of messages via nerves. It also plays a vital role in muscle contraction. Potassium keeps your heart beating and facilitates the movement of nutrients into cells and the removal of cellular waste. Potassium is also involved in the maintenance of healthy bones. A potassium-rich…
