Hypertension: dietary salt recommendation: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Hypertension: dietary salt recommendation

Sample item

A 50-year-old with newly diagnosed stage 1 hypertension asks for dietary advice. What is the WHO recommended upper limit of daily salt intake for adults?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Less than 5 g of salt

WHO recommends fewer than 5 g of salt per day, equal to about 2 g of sodium. Average salt intake in India is well above this. Lowering salt intake reduces blood pressure and cardiovascular risk.

Option by option

  • A. Less than 15 g of salt

    15 g is far above any recommended limit.

  • B. Less than 2 g of salt

    2 g is the sodium equivalent and not the amount of salt.

  • C. Less than 10 g of salt

    10 g is roughly twice the recommended limit.

  • D. Less than 5 g of salt (correct)

    Correct. The recommended limit is below 5 g of salt, which is about 2 g of sodium.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is D, Less than 5 g of salt. WHO recommends fewer than 5 g of salt per day, equal to about 2 g of sodium.

Why is "Less than 15 g of salt" not the answer?

15 g is far above any recommended limit.

Why is "Less than 2 g of salt" not the answer?

2 g is the sodium equivalent and not the amount of salt.

Why is "Less than 10 g of salt" not the answer?

10 g is roughly twice the recommended limit.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hypertension: dietary salt recommendation in PSM. Average salt intake in India is well above this. Lowering salt intake reduces blood pressure and cardiovascular risk.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Hypertension: dietary salt recommendation?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.