ASH_NP1 position_NN1 paper_NN1 :_: Dietary_JJ approaches_NN2 to_TO lower_VVI blood_NN1 pressure_NN1 Introduction_NN1 Worldwide_RL ,_, elevated_JJ blood_NN1 pressure_NN1 (_( BP_NP1 )_) is_VBZ the_AT leading_JJ cause_NN1 of_IO death_NN1 ,_, even_RR exceeding_VVG deaths_NN2 attributable_JJ to_II smoking_NN1 and_CC elevated_JJ cholesterol_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 finding_NN1 reflects_VVZ the_AT fact_NN1 that_CST BP_NP1 is_VBZ a_AT1 strong_JJ ,_, consistent_JJ ,_, continuous_JJ ,_, independent_JJ ,_, and_CC etiologically_RR relevant_JJ risk_NN1 factor_NN1 for_IF ._. 
Importantly_RR ,_, there_EX is_VBZ no_AT evidence_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 threshold_NN1 --_NN1 the_AT risk_NN1 of_IO CVD_NP1 increases_VVZ progressively_RR throughout_II the_AT range_NN1 of_IO usual_JJ BP_NP1 including_II the_AT nonhypertensive_JJ and_CC prehypertensive_JJ ranges_NN2 ._. 
Nearly_RR a_AT1 third_MD of_IO BP-related_JJ deaths_NN2 from_II coronary_JJ heart_NN1 disease_NN1 occur_VV0 in_II individuals_NN2 who_PNQS are_VBR not_XX hypertensive_JJ ._. 
Elevated_JJ BP_NP1 is_VBZ extraordinarily_RR common_JJ ._. 
According_II21 to_II22 the_AT most_RGT recent_JJ national_JJ survey_NN1 data_NN in_II the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 (_( 1999-2004_MCMC )_) ,_, 32%_NNU of_IO adult_NN1 Americans_NN2 have_VH0 hypertension_NN1 ,_, and_CC roughly_RR another_DD1 third_MD have_VH0 prehypertension_NN1 ._. 
Prehypertensive_JJ individuals_NN2 are_VBR at_II high-risk_JJ for_IF developing_JJ hypertension_NN1 and_CC carry_VV0 an_AT1 excess_JJ risk_NN1 of_IO CVD_NP1 compared_VVD with_IW nonhypertensive_JJ individuals_NN2 ._. 
On_II average_NN1 ,_, African_JJ Americans_NN2 have_VH0 higher_JJR BP_NP1 than_CSN non-African_JJ Americans_NN2 ,_, as_II31 well_II32 as_II33 an_AT1 increased_JJ risk_NN1 of_IO BP-related_JJ complications_NN2 ,_, particularly_RR stroke_VV0 and_CC kidney_NN1 failure_NN1 ._. 
According_II21 to_II22 recent_JJ survey_NN1 data_NN ,_, the_AT prevalence_NN1 of_IO hypertension_NN1 is_VBZ increasing_JJ ,_, while_CS control_NN1 rates_NN2 remain_VV0 low_JJ 
