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Salt abuse: the path to hypertension

Nature Medicine volume 14, pages 16–17 (2008)Cite this article

Excess salt intake over many years can lead to high blood pressure. An essential signaling mechanism behind this effect is now uncovered (pages 64–68).

Treatment for high blood pressure generally involves numerous types of drugs. β- and AT1-receptor blockers abolish the action of the pressure-increasing hormones epinephrine and angiotensin II, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors inhibit formation of angiotensin II, diuretics treat hypertension-related increases in plasma volume and calcium antagonists aim to treat vasoconstriction. Despite these options, all of these drugs have numerous side effects and the condition is often resistant to therapy.

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Figure 1: Keeping up the pressure.

Katie Ris-Vicari

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wilhelm Schoner is in the Institute of Biochemistry and Endocrinology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 100, D-35392 Giessen, Germany. wilhelm.schoner@vetmed.uni-giessen.de,

    Wilhelm Schoner

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  1. Wilhelm Schoner
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Schoner, W. Salt abuse: the path to hypertension. Nat Med 14, 16–17 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0108-16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0108-16

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