Excessive Use of Salt Causing High Blood Pressure or Hypertension

 

Excessive Use of Salt Causing High Blood Pressure or Hypertension

Excessive Use of Salt Causing High Blood Pressure or Hypertension. Salt or sodium chloride, is very commonly used in many foods. While sodium is essential for our bodies to function properly, excessive consumption of salt can lead to a host of health problems, including high blood pressure. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at how salt increases blood pressure and what you can do to reduce your sodium intake.

Mechanism of increasing blood pressure:

To understand how salt affects blood pressure, it's important to first understand what blood pressure is. Blood pressure is the force of blood on your arteries's walls as your heart pumps it around your body. A healthy BP is usually 120/80 mmHg. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, occurs when this reading consistently measures at or above 140/90 mmHg.

1) Excessive water retention in body;

When you consume too much salt, it increases the amount of sodium in your bloodstream. Sodium is an essential mineral that helps to regulate the amount of fluid in your body. However, when there's too much sodium in your bloodstream, your body starts to retain more water to try to balance things out. This excess water puts more pressure on your blood vessels, causing your blood pressure to rise.

2) Salt constricting blood vessels;

Another way that salt can increase blood pressure is by constricting your blood vessels. When your blood vessels narrow, it increases the resistance that your heart has to work against to pump blood around your body. This increased resistance leads to a higher blood pressure reading.

Salt affects differently for everyone:

It is important to notice that not everyone is equally prone to the effects of salt on blood pressure. Some people are more prone to developing high blood pressure than others, and this can be due to a variety of factors such as genetics, age, and lifestyle.

How to avoid from high blood pressure:

Reducing your salt intake is one of the most effective ways to lower your blood pressure. On an average, maximum of 2300 milligrams of salt should be consumed per day. However, many people consume far more salt than this, often without even realizing it. Processed foods, such as canned soups and sauces, snack foods, and frozen meals, are often high in salt, so it's important to read food labels carefully and choose low-sodium options whenever possible.

Summary:

In conclusion, salt can increase blood pressure by causing your body to retain more water and constricting your blood vessels. By reducing your salt intake and choosing low-sodium foods, you can lower your risk of developing high blood pressure and the associated health problems.