Why do some people get blood pressure spikes even though they don’t eat too much salt? Studies have found that women are more sensitive to salt and more likely to develop high blood pressure. (Shutterstock)
Why do some people get blood pressure spikes even though they don’t eat too much salt? There is increasing evidence that women of any race or age are more sensitive to salt than men, which increases their risk of high blood pressure and its associated complications, which can be life-threatening in severe cases. Why do women behave differently? How to reduce its effect?
Globally, nearly 1.3 billion adults aged 30 to 79 suffer from high blood pressure, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since 1990, the number of people with high blood pressure has doubled. Salt is known to be one of the factors that affect high blood pressure.
According to the recommendations of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a person’s daily salt intake should not exceed 2300 mg, about 1 teaspoon of salt. However, the average American consumes about 3,400 mg of sodium per day. Eating too much salt in the diet increases the risk of high blood pressure.
Amargo Couture, a registered dietitian at Staten Island University Hospital in New York, told The Epoch Times: “When we eat foods with a lot of salt, because of the hydrophilic nature of sodium, it makes the blood volume increase, causing for our blood pressure to rise. “Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases the risk of serious complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, heart failure, stroke and blindness.
However, there is another factor that many people are not aware of, which is salt sensitivity. Salt sensitivity is the degree to which a person’s body reacts to ingested salt, and salt sensitivity varies from person to person. Some people are more sensitive to salt, and in salt-sensitive people, even small amounts of sodium can lead to an increase in blood pressure.
People who are sensitive to salt retain salt in their body rather than excreting excess salt through urine. A person is salt sensitive if their blood pressure rises by more than 10% after eating a high salt diet.
High salt sensitivity in women is due to a hormone
one itemResearch ReviewWomen have been found to be more sensitive to salt than men, so salt is more likely to contribute to the risk of high blood pressure in women.
The authors of the study emphasize that women are generally better protected against cardiovascular disease than men, but this changes with age. Women tend to be more sensitive to salt from puberty, and once they enter menopause, the severity and prevalence of salt sensitivity will further increase.
Women are more sensitive to a hormone called aldosterone, which is associated with female fertility and plays an important role in the female body.
“Women who are salt sensitive were not able to reduce their aldosterone production enough, which we think contributes to their salt sensitivity.”
Salt sensitivity can lead to intractable hypertension Studies have shown that people who are sensitive to salt have a higher risk of death even if their blood pressure is within a healthy range.
The study found that participants who died had an average age of around 48 years and were almost twice as likely as survivors to have high blood pressure (63.4% compared to 33.8%) and salt sensitivity (73.4% compared to 44.9%).
Unfortunately, according to the US CDC, only about 25% of adult patients have high blood pressure under control, and an estimated 50% to 60% of high blood pressure patients are saltsensitiveBy.
4 ways to reduce the risk of high blood pressure with a low salt diet
To reduce the risk of high blood pressure, women who are sensitive to salt can take several steps:
• Avoid processed and packaged foods and reduce salt intake, which often contains high amounts of sodium.
• Choose fresh fruit, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains.
• Try using spices and seasonings to add flavor to meals rather than relying on salt.
• Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight can also help salt-sensitive women reduce their risk of developing high blood pressure.
Salt control, be careful of hyponatremia, the secret to balancing salt is potassium supplements
It is important to remember that too little saltIt can also cause serious health problems. Salt is an essential nutrient and acts as an electrolyte to maintain the body’s fluid balance so that muscles and nerves can function properly.
When the amount of this essential mineral is abnormally low, a person can develop a condition called hyponatremia. Symptoms of hyponatremia include:
• nausea or vomiting
• headache, confusion or fatigue
• muscle weakness, twitching or spasms
• seizures or coma
In addition, a balanced intake of appropriate sodium and potassium is also very important. Potassium and sodium are electrolytes that help the body function properly by maintaining fluid and blood volume. Eating too little potassium and too much sodium can also lead to high blood pressure.
Foods rich in potassium include potatoes, avocados, beans and bananas.
Increasing your potassium intake can help lower blood pressure, and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends adults get 4,700 mg of potassium a day.
For the English report, see The Epoch Times:Increased Salt Sensitivity Linked to Increased Risk of High Blood Pressure: Here’s What to Do .
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