The DASH diet plan (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) was originally designed to help prevent and control which medical condition?

Introduction / Context:
The DASH diet is frequently mentioned in health news and medical guidelines as a recommended eating pattern. The name DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It was developed by researchers to see whether changing diet could lower blood pressure without the immediate need for medications or alongside them. This question checks whether you know which specific health problem the DASH diet was primarily designed to address.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The acronym DASH is given as a diet plan name.
• Answer choices list various diseases: tuberculosis, thyroid disorders, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity.
• We assume standard public health knowledge regarding diet and chronic diseases.
• The task is to identify the main condition targeted by the DASH diet.

Concept / Approach:
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage. Researchers designed the DASH eating pattern to be rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low fat dairy products, while being lower in saturated fat, cholesterol, and refined sugar. This combination of nutrients, along with reduced sodium intake, was shown to significantly lower blood pressure in clinical trials. Although the DASH diet can also help with weight control and blood sugar, its primary and original goal was to prevent and control hypertension.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Expand the acronym DASH as Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. Step 2: Note that the word “hypertension” in the full form indicates the main target disease. Step 3: Recall that hypertension refers to chronically elevated blood pressure. Step 4: Understand that the DASH diet emphasizes foods high in potassium, calcium, and magnesium and low in sodium, which are known to lower blood pressure. Step 5: Compare hypertension with other diseases in the options: tuberculosis is an infectious disease, thyroid disorders involve endocrine function, diabetes is a blood sugar problem, and obesity is excess body fat. Step 6: While DASH may indirectly help with weight and metabolic health, its core aim is to prevent and manage high blood pressure.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official health organisations and guidelines, such as those for heart disease prevention, commonly recommend the DASH diet for individuals with prehypertension or hypertension. Articles describing the original DASH research trials report significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure among participants. The explicit naming as an approach to stop hypertension further confirms that this is the intended target condition.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Tuberculosis: A bacterial lung infection that is treated mainly with antibiotics, not primarily with diet. Thyroid disorders: Caused by underactive or overactive thyroid glands; treatment usually involves hormone therapy rather than a specific diet like DASH. Diabetes mellitus: Although healthy diets help diabetes, the DASH diet was not originally created specifically for blood sugar control. Obesity: The DASH diet can support weight management, but its primary evidence base and aim are related to blood pressure control.

Common Pitfalls:
Because the DASH diet is healthy overall, some students assume it was designed mainly for diabetes or obesity. It is important to tie the acronym back to its meaning. Remember that “Stop Hypertension” is built into the name, making hypertension the central focus of this diet plan.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Hypertension (high blood pressure).