Re: Blood Pressure,Salt,PD

[Bent Willow <lambs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"When salt tablets hit your stomach, a reaction begins that pulls
water from surrounding tissues into your stomach to dilute the
salt concentration, causing possible dehydration and collapse."

"Extra salt increases urination which means a fluid loss that could
lead to heat exhaustion or stroke. That fluid loss also washes out
potassium and low potassium level leads to fatigue."
Phil Tompkins


Sodium is a normal body electrolyte that is *decreased* by excessive fluid
intake.  Contrary to what you have written here, sodium helps to *retain*
fluid - hence the understanding  that too much salt increases blood pressure
by increasing fluid volume.

There is a myth in America that the use of salt is bad.  For a certain
portion of the population that may be true, but there are now a number of
patients in the care of the medical community who have exceptionally low
BPs, feel tired as a consequence and have difficulty completing ordinary
tasks.  This population has had a decreased salt intake as a matter of
dietary practice.  Some physicians are now suggesting that these individuals
increase their daily salt intake.  It is not unusual for me to administer
salt tablets to a number of my patients, per doctor's orders, in an effort
to correct sodium and chloride electrolytes deficiencies.

This is probably a good time to remind list participants that the
*excessive* intake of water can actually be dangerous.  In addition to
depleting electrolytes,  increased water intake can dilute medications.  As
a Urologist (who had to correct a severe electrolyte deficiency in an older
woman whose children insisted that she drink 8 glasses of water a day) told
me, "People should only drink when they're thirsty - the body recognizes
when it needs water - too much water is far more dangerous than too
little.."  Please be aware that we were discussing people with relatively
normal nutritional and metabolic needs.  So....drink when you're thirsty -
and consider increasing fluid intake in the summer when the weather is hot.
But, beware of drinking  large quantitiies of water when your body doesn't
need them.
-----
Regards
Mary Ann Ryan RN, BSN