Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation in joints. The most common symptoms are pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis is usually caused by wear and tear and occurs naturally with aging. Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an immune system disorder. Types of arthritis that occur less frequently are caused by built-up uric acid crystals, an infection or underlying disease such as lupus. According to the Arthritis Foundation, consuming too much sodium increases the risk of hypertension, especially in people with arthritis.
About Sodium
Sodium is a nutrient that is essential in small amounts. The body needs some sodium to maintain the right balance of fluids, transmit nerve impulses and control muscle performance. Too much sodium can cause the body to hold onto excess water and increases the volume of blood, which makes the heart work harder to move blood through blood vessels, resulting in high blood pressure. According to researchers from the department of rheumatology at Russells Hall Hospital in the U.K., hypertension is highly prevalent in RA patients.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
In an article about sodium intake and arthritis, "Arthritis Today" magazine reports that people with RA may benefit by keeping sodium intake in check. High blood pressure is a risk factor for people with RA because the condition causes arteries to become inflamed, which forces the heart to work harder to pump blood. Medications used to treat RA, specifically corticosteroids, also cause the body to retain sodium.
Sodium Consumption
The Mayo Clinic says that according to "Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010," healthy adults should limit sodium consumption to less than 2,300 mg a day. For those over the age of 50, African-Americans or individuals with high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease, sodium consumption should be limited to 1,500 mg a day, which is no easy feat, since 1 tsp. of salt contains 2,325 mg of sodium.
Aging
An estimated 50 million adults in the United States have some type of arthritis, including RA, gout, lupus and fibromyalgia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between the ages of 45 to 64, nearly 30 percent of Americans are diagnosed with arthritis. Over the age of 65, 50 percent have the painful joint disease, according to 2010 data by the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The risk of developing high blood pressure also increases with age. Just over 36 percent of adults between 45 and 54 years old have high blood pressure. By age 55, more than 50 percent of men and women have the condition. For adults, even for those who have not exhibited symptoms of hypertension or arthritis, the risk for developing these diseases is so high that taking steps to prevent onset, including reducing sodium intake, is crucial to healthy aging.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Arthritis; January 2011
- Arthritis Foundation: Limit Your Sodium
- MayoClinic.com; Sodium: How to Tame Your Salt Habit Now; March 2011
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Arthritis Related Statistics; October 2010
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; High Blood Pressure Facts; March 2011
- "Rheumatology"; Prevalence and Associations of Hypertension and Its Control in RA Patients; VP Panoulas; 2007
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