Achieving compliance to a reduced sodium diet.

Hypertension affects at least 40 million people in the United States today. Nonpharmacological treatment of hypertension relies on modifications in the diet and lifestyle. In refractory cases, the initiation of drug treatment is necessary. Although dietary sodium restriction is widely advocated, assessment of compliance to a reduced sodium diet has been difficult. This article discusses the use of a urinary chloride titrator stick to enable patients to monitor their dietary sodium intake at home. This tool increased compliance to a low sodium diet in the test population.