Sodium plays a significant role in hypertension. Hypertension refers to high blood pressure. Most causes of primary hypertension are unknown in 95 percent of cases, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. If a hypertension case does have a cause, then the case is known as secondary hypertension. Causes for secondary hypertension include chronic kidney disease, hormonal disturbances, alcohol abuse and endocrine tumors. High blood pressure can contribute to significant health issues if not controlled.
Description of Hypertension
Specifically, hypertension exists when the blood flowing through the arteries flows harder and more intensely than necessary. When this occurs, significant pressure is exerted on the walls of the blood vessels and arteries. This is why hypertension is known as high blood pressure. Constant, intense pressure placed on the artery walls will eventually cause them to weaken.
Sodium and Water
Under normal circumstances, water assists with metabolic functions, maintenance of blood pressure and temperature regulation. However, the presence of too much sodium causes your body to hold on to more water than it should, contributing to water retention. With excess water in your system, blood pressure is increased even more as the water continues to move throughout your body.
Continued Water Intake
If a high-salt meal is consumed, blood pressure may still continue to rise hours after the meal, because your water intake will increase. As the body metabolizes sodium and eventually secretes it, blood pressure will go down and the excess fluid will also decrease.
Continued High Sodium
A continual intake of high-sodium meals can cause your blood pressure to rise more and more each day, eventually leading to very serious health conditions such as a stroke, kidney failure, heart attack and obesity. Intake of sodium should be within a range of 1500 to 2300 mg or less per day, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Ways to decrease sodium in your diet and thereby reduce your hypertension risk involve removing the salt shaker from the table; lowering your intake of prepackaged foods, canned vegetables and soups; and limiting your consumption of processed meats such as bacon, ham, jerky and smoked sausage.
