Surprising explanation, high blood pressure must eat less salt

There is a dangerous link between high blood pressure and salt, but few people pay attention to this fact.

One of the first things doctors tell people when they’re diagnosed with high blood pressure is to cut back on salt. But not everyone follows that advice, at least according to a new study published in Health.

There is a dangerous link between high blood pressure and salt.

Researchers found that from 1999 to 2012, salt intake increased by more than 14% in people with high blood pressure.

The study, to be presented at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' annual meeting, found that people with high blood pressure consumed more than double the recommended daily allowance of salt in 2012 - an average of 3,350 milligrams a day.

According to U.S. dietary guidelines, people with or at high risk for high blood pressure should eat no more than 1,500 milligrams of salt per day.

That's significantly lower than the daily limit of 2,300 milligrams for most people with normal blood pressure. But the cutback is necessary, because scientists have found that salt and high blood pressure are dangerously linked.

Scientists have yet to determine the exact mechanism by which salt affects blood pressure, but they have some interesting hypotheses, says Dr. Elena Dolmatova of Rutgers Medical School in New Jersey.

One is that salt draws water into the blood vessels and thereby increases the amount of fluid flowing in the blood vessels. This leads to increased pressure in the blood vessels, which is very harmful to the heart and the entire cardiovascular system.

Some studies have also linked the amount of salt people consume to a hormone called endogenous ouabain, which causes blood vessels to constrict, Dr. Dolmatova said.

Other research has found that salt is also linked to a hormone called angiotensin II, which also constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure.

Therefore, reducing salt intake is very important for people with high blood pressure. Reducing salt intake will help reduce pressure on their cardiovascular system and help improve their quality of life and increase their longevity.

According to VNN