2009 Canadian Hypertension Education Program recommendations: An annual update

On behalf of the Canadian Hypertension Education Program

Compose eLetter

Title *

Author Information

Contributors
First Name and Middle Initial * First or given name, e.g. 'Peter'. Last Name * Your last, or family, name, e.g. 'MacMoody'. Email Address * Your email address, e.g. higgs-boson@gmail.com Occupation * Your role and/or occupation, e.g. 'Orthopedic Surgeon'. Affiliation * Your organization or institution (if applicable), e.g. 'Royal Free Hospital'.

Statement of Competing Interests

Competing interests? *

Yes

Please describe the competing interests

Vertical Tabs

Jump to comment:

A Prescription for Sodium
Adam Steacie

Published on: 31 August 2009
give every patient a free BP home monitoring kit
Dr. David Rapoport

Published on: 10 August 2009

Published on: (31 August 2009)

A Prescription for Sodium
Adam Steacie, MD
In 2007 Blood Pressure Canada, with endorsement of many national Healthcare organizations released the National Policy for Sodium, recommending a reduction in daily adequate sodium intake to 1500 mg/day, with a maximum of 2300mg. In response, the Federal Minister of Health set up a Sodium Working Group, a 24 member panel from Government, Health Care and the food industry which first met in February 2008, and was due to...
Show More

In 2007 Blood Pressure Canada, with endorsement of many national Healthcare organizations released the National Policy for Sodium, recommending a reduction in daily adequate sodium intake to 1500 mg/day, with a maximum of 2300mg. In response, the Federal Minister of Health set up a Sodium Working Group, a 24 member panel from Government, Health Care and the food industry which first met in February 2008, and was due to report this spring. The mandate is to assist in reducing the daily intake of sodium by Canadians.
These new goals were reflected in the new CHEP recommendations published in the July CFP (1). On the topic of lifestyle modifications, the group states: “Unfortunately, after a diagnosis of hypertension few Canadians improve their lifestyles; however, simple and brief interventions by health care professionals increase the probability of patients making lifestyle changes.”
We advocate providing all hypertensive patients with a prescription for sodium, which should say: “Read the label! SODIUM: 200mg per serving; a total of 1500 mg per day. “
This would have several advantages as a brief intervention:
• Clear concise directions: “200 mg/serving, a total of 1500 mg/day”
• Gives the patient the name “sodium” as some seem confused- they know they should reduce salt, but the use of sodium sometimes confuses
• Gives patients numbers and names which precisely reflect terminology on labels will help with label reading
• A prescription pad or prescription printed from my EMR is all I need. As a family physician I don’t need another pamphlet to add to the numerous tear-off sheets, requisitions, referral forms, application forms or report forms that fill up the walls of my office.
Adam Steacie MD, MSc FCFP
On behalf of the Health Promotion and Primary Prevention Sub- Committee of the Ontario Stroke Network
1) 2009 Canadian Hypertension Education Program recommendations: An annual update. Can Fam Physician 2009 55: 697 -700
Show Less

Competing Interests: None declared.
Published on: (10 August 2009)

give every patient a free BP home monitoring kit
Dr. David Rapoport, physician
This article notes the errors we so commonly commit when we base treatment decisions on office BP readings.
For many years I marvelled at the fact that patients I referred for ambulatory BP monitoring, only my most difficult patients to control, often turned out to have normal BP.
In recent years, I have encouraged patients to buy their own BP cuffs and keep a diary of readings at various times of the...
Show More

This article notes the errors we so commonly commit when we base treatment decisions on office BP readings.
For many years I marvelled at the fact that patients I referred for ambulatory BP monitoring, only my most difficult patients to control, often turned out to have normal BP.
In recent years, I have encouraged patients to buy their own BP cuffs and keep a diary of readings at various times of the day. It is irresponsible to overtreat someone who presents me with a near-perfect record.
Thus I encourage provincial health plans to provide home BP cuffs free for appropriate patients. The modest cost would be redeemed within a few weeks if expensive drugs are not prescribed, and we would have fewer edematous, coughing and exhausted patients in our practices.
Show Less

Competing Interests: None declared.