Relationship between Sodium Intake and Blood Pressure

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According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health, hypertension affects 50 million adults. It can significantly raise a person’s risk of a myriad of conditions, including stroke, cardiovascular disease and kidney damage. Because of its detrimental effects on the body, it is important for people to understand the different things that can influence blood pressure. One of these items is sodium intake.
Sodium chloride, or salt, typically has the effect of raising blood pressure. Those who eat a diet higher in salt tend to have higher blood pressure. Because even small increases in blood pressure can have a significant effect on health, it is important to watch how much sodium you eat. How much salt affects a person will change depending on the person.
The effects of salt on blood pressure have been shown in study after study. In one study conducted by Harvard and the National Institutes of Health, three groups were assigned to different diets. They contained sodium levels of 3,300, 2,400 and 1,500 mg a day. Some of the study participants had high blood pressure while others had elevated but still normal blood pressure. When the high-normal study participants lowered their salt intake, their systolic blood pressure decreased by 6.7 points. The high blood pressure group enjoyed a decrease of 8.3. This is very similar to a low dosage of a blood pressure medication that on average decreases systolic blood pressure by 9 points. The more participants reduced their sodium, the greater decrease in blood pressure they achieved.
Whether or not you have high blood pressure, it is important to limit the amount of sodium that you consume. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the current guidelines recommend no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Those who are high risk include people who have high blood pressure, have chronic kidney disease, are diabetic, are of African American ancestry or are 51 years old or older. Those people should consumer no more than 1500 mg of sodium per day according to the CDC. Other researchers have suggested a diet with no more than approximately 1200 mg per day for high risk individuals. Speak to your doctor about what might be right for you.
It is important for people to carefully watch their sodium intake because of its effects on blood pressure. Some restaurant meals literally possess more sodium than is recommended in one day. If you need help creating a lower sodium diet, speak to a nutritionist or dietician.