Dietary factors in hypertension

[ro12]

I recently completed the long questionnaire on diet and read the summary conclusions with great interest. They identified some areas where I was recommended to change my diet. Some concerned me less than others: my wife supports my desire to reduce salt intake and uses less than the amounts recommended in most recipes, so I am not too worried that the result showed higher than recommended salt intake, as the questionnaire cannot take account of her reductions--and the difference was not that great anyway, 3,700mg as opposed to 2,300mg of Sodium. Calcium came in at 600mg as opposed to 1,200mg, but this is based on normal consumption of milk, from which calcium is not readily absorbed, and as I am lactose intolerant, none of my calcium comes from milk and the 600mg estimated to come from my diet is supplement by 300mg from a supplement I take daily. But Vitamin D came in at about one third of the recommended 600 iU, and only increases to about half even when I include the 100 iU (2.5mcg) that come with my calcium supplement. Should I be worried? This is my first post, and it's been about me and my concerns, but it would be good to share concerns and experiences over the whole range of diet and to get knowledgeable input.

[ma]

Hi RO12,

I have just noticed your interesting question and suspect others might also have also missed it.
Diet is controversial because there is no clear consensus on the issue of salt and some other nutrients and minerals. However, it makes sense to take everything in moderation.
Like yourself, I have a lactose intollerance however do not supplement Calcium as my values are well within range. This highlights the individual nature of the dietary supplements that we may need. Similar to you, vitamin D deficiency is an issue and I now supplement every winter.
For me, hypothyroidism dominates my need for supplements in order to ensure that I can absorb the medications and make the conversion from T4 to T3.
I would imagine that there are also particular trace elements, minerals and nutrients required to optimally process hypertensive medications. Perhaps this could be an area for research?
Obviously, the majority of us would agree that an optimal weight is required to help lower BP, but what if people are dieting and causing nutritional imbalances?
My endocrinologist is good at doing a comprehensive blood profile which helps me identify and correct any imbalances.

[ro12]

Hello, Ma.

It was a surprise to get a response after so many months. I note that even communications directed at those running the program are replied to after similar long delays and, in my case, have been singularly unhelpful. For example, a request about how to make the information collected by my Apple Watch referred me to a site intended for proprietary products , none of which I possessed and none of which could be linked to my watch! I guess they are too busy running the thing to properly handle any matters arising... A young woman I was in post-grad with had hyperthyroidism and she ate like a BIRD but was still what I would call "well built." I trust things are easier for you. At least you appear to be getting good medical advice, which I also have here in Japan under the national health scheme, which charges me (as an 80-year old) 10% of the actual cost.

[ma]

Hi RO12,

Nice to hear from you. I don't find the set up very user friendly and don't notice new posts unless someone has responded to me, in which case I get an email to remind me.
I am in Germany and would not describe the medical care as good. They are very good at running tests but not joining the dots in my opinion. Thus far, only my own knowledge and striking up relationships with medical professionals has kept me alive.
Due to hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's disease, I am one of those people who eat like a bird but look like an elephant:-)

[ro12]

Hello, Ma!

Yes, good to be in touch. I am retired with the time to indulge in correspondence but please don't let me impose on you if your time is much more limited!

I know nothing of health services and health insurance in Germany, but as a Brit ex-patriot in Japan I am familiar with the U.K. National Health Service and the Japanese system. Quite different, and each with their own distinctive advantages and disadvantages, The major one here is that there are no "general practitioners" in Japan. All doctors have qualified in one or more specialities, so every clinic and surgery has its own claimed expertise. This means that each patient has to decide which speciality is likely to be able to correctly diagnose his or her complaint. Since all specialists tend to see thing through their own professional spectacles, this can mean at best a series of fruitless diagnoses until the right one is made or at worst useless treatment for a misdiagnosed condition. As the usual insurance coverage (to age 70) is 70% of the total cost (I.e., you pay 30%), this can be time-consuming and expensive. At my age the burden shrinks to 10% but some procedures and treatments are not covered at all. But given the right diagnosis, the quality of treatment is superb, and usually takes place at a large teaching hospital. I am fortunate in that the doctor who takes my annual proctoscopes is a famous specialist with contacts throughout the profession, and has referred me to highly qualified specialists in each of the areas where my health has suffered. Old age does not come alone, so there have been quite a few (wry grin). The NHS is essentially free, certainly to people of my age, but I understand that it can take months to obtain a consultation with a specialist... I gather that your thyroid problem imposes the same kind of diet restrictions that I saw in my Scots friend. I sympathise! I know it must require an iron will! I love wine more than is good for me, and it takes all my willpower to keep to the one large glass a day on only five days a week, that is claimed to be the healthy upper limit. Mika and I are just back from France, where we cruised the Garonne and Dordogne around Bordeaux and well exceeded our healthy maximum... so we are currently enduring a wineless week to bring back down the averages.