Lancet
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Evaluation of the effectiveness of a low sodium diet in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension.
28 patients who had a sustained diastolic blood pressure of 95 to 104 mm Hg and who had no treatment for it for at least 13 months before the trial, but who were otherwise unselected, took part in a randomised controlled trial in which the effect of a restricted sodium diet was compared with that of a general health package. The general health package did not include any specific hypotensive procedures. ⋯ Within each group both systolic and diastolic blood pressure fell to a highly significant extent after a year, but there was no significant difference between the groups. It would thus seem that the antihypertensive effect of a restricted sodium diet may be related to the increased consultation and monitoring activity of such intervention rather than to the dietary manipulation itself.
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200 disabled multiple sclerosis patients living at home in England were interviewed to discover to what extent they were receiving the social and health benefits to which they were entitled. Many patients were ignorant of their entitlements, and there were major deficiencies in their receipt of cash benefits, job retraining, rehousing and home alterations, help in the home, and telephones, cars, and radio and television receivers. Social-worker visits were infrequent and ineffective. ⋯ A multiple sclerosis register is recommended, together with automatic referral of those listed to social workers. The only major criticism of medical care was that the diagnosis should be revealed to the patient earlier and more information on the disorder should be provided. More frequent contact with multiple sclerosis patients by ancillary health workers (physiotherapists and health visitors) is needed.