Sodium Stored In The Skin May Be A Key Factor In High Blood Pressure

In more than 90 percent of patients diagnosed with high blood pressure, physicians who check the kidneys, blood vessels and brain are unable to determine the reason. Now a new study in mice suggests that in the future physicians should also focus on the skin. The study confirms earlier – and controversial – studies showing that the body stores sodium in the skin, and immune system cells and lymph capillaries regulate sodium balance and blood pressure. A clinical study is planned to assess whether people with higher levels of sodium in the skin are more likely to have heart attacks, strokes or other artery disease.