When he asks, “What does salt have to do with high blood pressure?

A 55-year-old man has recently been diagnosed with hypertension. His physician orders a low-sodium diet for him.

When he asks, “What does salt have to do with high blood pressure?’’ the nurse’s initialresponse would be:
A . “The reason is not known why hypertension is associated with a high-salt diet.”
B . “Large amounts of salt in your diet can cause you to retain fluid, which increases your blood pressure.”
C . “Salt affects your blood vessels and causes your blood pressure to be high.”
D . “Salt is needed to maintain blood pressure, but too much causes hypertension.”

View Answer

Answer: B

Explanation:

(A) This response is untrue.

(B) Decreasing salt intake reduces fluid retention and decreases blood pressure.

(C) Salt does not have an effect on the blood vessels themselves, but on fluid retention, which accompanies salt intake.

(D) This response is untrue.