Sodium is a metallic element that your body requires for many vital functions. However, when you consume too much sodium, the element can actually harm your body. In fact, in certain cases, sodium can kill you. Although dying from excessive sodium is not a common occurrence, the gradual intake sodium through a high sodium diet can eventually cause high blood pressure and other potentially deadly diseases.
Excessive Sodium
Hypernatremia is a condition that can cause seizure and possible death. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," hypernatremia can occur when the serum sodium concentration in your body exceeds 145 mEq/L. When sodium concentrations exceed this level, the ratio of your body's total water relative to total sodium causes your body to lose water faster than it can intake water. This condition can result in confusion, muscle spasms, seizures, coma and possibly death.
Sodium Control
Your kidney's function as a control mechanism helping to ensure the optimum levels of sodium in your body. When your sodium level is too low, the kidneys hold on to the sodium until you replenish the sodium levels in your body. When the sodium level in your body is too high, your kidneys flush the excess sodium out of your body in your urine. If the sodium is not flushed from your body, you will start to retain water.
Daily Requirement
The National Institutes of Health recommends a daily sodium intake less than 2,300 mg for an average adult. This recommendation decreases to 1,500 mg if you have high blood pressure. If you are in a high-risk group, speak with a medical professional about your maximum daily recommended sodium level. Some ethnic groups are also more likely to have an adverse reaction to high sodium intake. Additionally, your weight and any family history of high blood pressure or heart disease can place you in a high risk group.
Hidden Sodium In Foods
You can find sodium in virtually everything you eat. If you are on a low sodium diet you should make yourself aware of the sodium content in everything you consume. Processed foods generally have a higher concentration of sodium. Read the label of every item you buy and understand the sodium content. While sodium can make food taste better, look to find healthier alternatives.
References
- NIH: Sodium in Diet; May 2010
- Mayo Clinic: Pass on the Salt: Most Americans Would Benefit from Lower Sodium Intake; September 2009
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Dennis Kasper, Eugene Braunwald, Stephen Hauser, Dan Longo, J. Larry Jameson and Anthony Fauci; 2004
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