Feeding the diaster survivors

[Guest guest]

Can anyone find the sodium content of MREs?

Blood Press. 2004;13(1):37-40. Related Articles, Links

High-sodium diets in Japanese evacuation centers increase blood pressures of evacuees.

Takechi S, Yoneda R, Mizuno R, Machida M, Fujimoto T, Kakinoki S, Kuroshima S, Nomura A.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Date Red Cross Hospital, Date, Hokkaido, Japan.

AIMS: High blood pressure after a natural disaster is tentatively considered to be due to elevation of sympathetic nerve activity. A volcano in Japan erupted on March 31, 2000, and people living in the vicinity of the volcano were evacuated to safe shelters. We found that many evacuees developed high blood pressure while staying at evacuation centers. The aim of this study was to investigate why their blood pressures stayed elevated. METHODS AND SUBJECTS: Sixty-five evacuees, who were staying evacuation centers for 4 months, were examined for blood pressure, urinary sodium excretion, urinary potassium excretion, and plasma and urinary catecholamines. RESULTS: Associations were found between systolic blood pressure and sodium excretion (r = 0.311, p < 0.05) and between systolic blood pressure and the ratio of urinary sodium to urinary potassium (r = 0.320, p < 0.05). However, no association was found between blood pressure and plasma and urinary catecholamines (NE, DHPG and MHPG). CONCLUSION: High sodium consumption was thought to be an important factor in the elevation of blood pressure of the evacuees after acute phase reactions.

May your pressure be low!

Clarence E. Grim, BS (Chem/Math), MS (Biochem), MD, FACP, FACC, FAHS

Clinical Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology

Director, Hypertension Diagnosis and Treatment Center

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

Published over 220 scientific papers, book chapters and 220 abstracts in the area of high blood pressure epidemiology, physiology, endocrinology measurement, treatment and how to detect curable causes.

Listed in Best Doctors in America

Specializing in Difficult to Control High Blood Pressure and the History and Physiology of High Blood pressure in the African Diaspora