Wu co-authored the study. Potassium helps lower blood pressure Potassium supplements have been found to lower blood pressure. A Hopkins research team, publishing their results in the May 26 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, found that potassium lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressures, even in severe cases of hypertension. Researchers noted that potassium might also help those with normal blood pressure keep their blood pressure normal. Further, they speculated that a diet rich in potassium could have a beneficial effect, similar to the supplements.
Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke and kidney disease.
An estimated 40 million Americans have high blood pressure. African Americans over the age of 50 are at particularly high risk. The street study may be better, in part, because it's more personal than telephone or mail surveys. For the street survey study, African American interviewers, trained in survey techniques, talked with 942 adults who were encountered in the context of their everyday lives and asked questions about smoking, nutrition, literacy and nonhealth matters. Telephone interviewers contacted 928 households.