Consuming high amounts of salt is usually associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, and for those whose blood pressure is too low, eating more salt may help. However, there are many causes of low blood pressure, and in some cases it can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. If you are concerned about your blood pressure or salt intake, speak with your physician, who can run tests and determine the best treatment approach.
Blood Pressure
As the heart pumps blood throughout the body it places pressure against the blood vessel walls, and taking your blood pressure helps to determine the health of your heart and circulatory system. Blood pressure readings that are too low can be a sign of a structural problem within the heart muscle or its valves, diseases that affect the blood vessels or a sign that the heart is not able to pump hard enough.
It is important to have any changes in blood pressure evaluated because there are many factors that can alter it. This includes exercise, certain foods, stress, alcohol and smoking, says the University of Illinois McKinley Health Center. There are also many medical conditions that can make your pressure rise or drop and they usually require medical treatment.
Salt and Blood Pressure
If the level of salt gets too high your kidneys will try to filter and excrete it to keep blood sodium levels in balance. However, when high amounts of salt are consumed the kidneys may not be able to keep up. Since salt retains water, when you eat too much sodium, fluid can accumulate, meaning that the heart has more fluid to pump, and this excess fluid can raise your blood pressure, reports the American Association of Kidney Patients, Inc. Given this, in some cases of low blood pressure, adding more salt into your diet may help. However, if there is an underlying disease or problem making your blood pressure levels too low, consuming salt may not help and, in some cases, it may even cause complications.
Hypotension Causes
The exact treatment for hypotension or low blood pressure depends on the cause. Your blood pressure can get too low if you are dehydrated, pregnant, or it can drop whenever you change position or eat a large meal. Age and the changes that occur in the body with age can also make your pressure go too low. Medical conditions such as heart failure, kidney disease, anemia, severe infections, thyroid diseases, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and others can all cause your blood pressure to drop, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Some medications can cause low blood pressure as a side effect. With all of the above, the cause of hypotension needs to be addressed as just adding salt to the diet may not be enough.
Treatment
You need to seek medical attention if your low blood pressure is accompanied by blurred vision, confusion, dizziness, fainting spells, lightheadedness, sleepiness or weakness, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. In some cases increasing fluids to treat dehydration or wearing elastic hose to improve blood pressure in the legs can help. Changing positions more slowly and avoiding alcohol may also keep your blood pressure more steady. If your low blood pressure is due to heart or kidney disease you may need medication or surgery.
