BLOOD-PRESSURE LEVEL AND REACTION OF THE CARDIOVASCULAR-SYSTEM TO PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL STRESS IN ADOLESCENTS WITH MILD HYPERTENSION - RELATION TO SALT TASTE THRESHOLD

Taste threshold to salt was determined in 126 adolescents with mild hy pertension and in 90 adolescents with normal blood pressure (control g roup), Low salt taste threshold was more frequent (p<0,001) while high threshold was relatively rare (p<0,01) among adolescents with normal blood pressure compared to subjects with mild hypertension. Diastolic blood pressure in subjects with mild hypertension and high salt taste threshold was higher than in adolescents with low threshold (p<0,05). Increments of diastolic blood pressure and of ''double product'' in re sponse to psychoemotional stress were two times lower in subjects with mild hypertension aid high salt taste threshold compared to those wit h low threshold. Thus in subjects with high salt taste threshold react ion of the cardiovascular system to psychoemotional stress was found t o be deficient, Measurement of the threshold of taste to salt can be u sed as a complimentary test for determination of subjects being at ris k of development of hypertension.