The body needs sodium to function properly. You only need about 1,500 mg of salt per day to meet your body's requirements, but many people consume double that amount or more on a daily basis. Taking in too much sodium can lead to a variety of side effects, including high blood pressure and swelling, or edema. Swelling from too much sodium is typically most noticeable in the limbs and face.
Cause
Sodium helps control the water balance in your body's cells to keep it at an optimum level. When you consume excessive amounts of salt, your sodium levels rise and you begin to retain water, which can lead to visible swelling. The swelling associated with sodium intake isn't usually painful, but you may be able to feel the sponginess of your skin from the excess water if you press on the swollen areas.
Solution
Swelling due to sodium intake isn't typically a major medical concern. Simply watching your salt intake and monitoring how much you consume daily by checking nutrition labels usually solves the problem. Restricting your sodium intake to between 1,500 and 2,300 mg per day also helps reduce your risk of high blood pressure and heart and kidney problems. Avoid processed foods as much as possible and don't add salt to your cooking to make it easier to track your daily intake.
Considerations
Eliminating all sodium from your diet isn't necessary to reduce swelling and could result in hyponatremia, a condition that can lead to life-threatening complications if your body does not get enough salt. This isn't typically a concern for the average American, but it's important to include some sodium in your daily diet.
Warning
Talk to your doctor if your swelling doesn't go away after reducing your sodium intake. Swelling can be indicative of serious medical problems, such as blood clots, high or low blood pressure, a blood vessel injury or kidney, heart or liver problems. Finding the underlying cause of your swelling is extremely important so you can receive proper treatment. Seek emergency medical care if your swelling is accompanied by severe pain, shortness of breath or chest pains.
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