Abstract

Hypertension affects over 1.2 billion individuals worldwide and has become the most critical and expensive public health problem. It is a multifactorial disease involving environmental and genetic factors together with risk conferring behaviours. Most cases of hypertension are idiopathic, where it is also known as essential hypertension. It has long been suggested that an increase in salt intake increases the risk of developing hypertension. Hypertension is also associated with atherosclerosis, coronary and cerebrovascular disease, diabetes and can lead to myocardial infarction, stroke, renal failure, and consequent death if not detected early and treated appropriately. Hypertension can occur due to many underlying causes, when it is known as secondary hypertension, mainly due to Cushing’s disease, phaeochromocytoma, hyperthyroidism, renovascular disease, raised intracranial pressure, aortic coarctation and renal parenchymal disease (1). It is a major contributor to the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in adult populations

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