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How Does Salt Affect Kidneys

How Can I Prevent Or Slow The Progression Of Kidney Disease From High Blood Pressure

Sodium (salt) and your kidneys

The best way to slow or prevent kidney disease from high blood pressure is to take steps to lower your blood pressure. These steps include a combination of medicines and lifestyle changes, such as

  • being physically active
  • managing stress
  • following a healthy diet, including less sodium intake

No matter what the cause of your kidney disease, high blood pressure can make your kidneys worse. If you have kidney disease, you should talk with your health care professional about your individual blood pressure goals and how often you should have your blood pressure checked.

Hints To Keep Your Sodium Intake Down

  • Cook with herbs and spices instead of salt.

  • Read food labels and choose those foods low in sodium.

  • If you need to limit potassium avoid salt substitutes and specialty low-sodium foods made with salt substitutes because they are high in potassium.

  • When eating out, ask for foods prepared without salt. Ask for gravy or sauce on the side these may contain large amounts of salt and should be used in small amounts.

  • Limit use of canned, processed, and frozen foods.

How Does Low Sodium Afect The Kidneys

Asked
14 Aug 2010 by loan24

Your kidneys naturally balance the amount of sodium stored in your body for optimal health. When your sodium levels are low, your kidneys essentially hold on to the sodium. When sodium levels are high, your kidneys excrete the excess in urine.

But if for some reason your kidneys can’t eliminate enough sodium, the sodium starts to accumulate in your blood. Because sodium attracts and holds water, your blood volume increases. Increased blood volume makes your heart work harder to move more blood through your blood vessels, which increases pressure in your arteries. Such diseases as congestive heart failure, cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease can make it hard for your kidneys to keep sodium levels balanced.

Some people’s bodies are more sensitive to the effects of sodium than are others. If you’re sodium sensitive, you retain sodium more easily, leading to fluid retention and increased blood pressure. The extra sodium can even lead to high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and congestive heart failure.

I hope I have answered your question.

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What Are The Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure And Kidney Disease

Most people with high blood pressure do not have symptoms. In rare cases, high blood pressure can cause headaches.

Early CKD also may not have symptoms. As kidney disease gets worse, some people may have swelling, called edema. Edema happens when the kidneys cannot get rid of extra fluid and salt. Edema can occur in the legs, feet, ankles, orless oftenin the hands or face.

Symptoms of advanced kidney disease can include

  • loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting
  • drowsiness, feeling tired, or sleep problems
  • headaches or trouble concentrating
  • chest pain or shortness of breath

Easy Ways To Lower Down The Intake Of Salt:

Dangers of Salt: Its More Than Just High Blood Pressure ...
  • Watch out cereals and slices of bread before consuming. They include a high amount of salt and similar preservatives.
  • Avoid processed foods. They have added preservatives in high amount. Another reason why we do not recommend processed food is just that it is necessary for a kidney patient to eat fresh fruits & vegetables which obviously the processed foods cannot provide you.
  • Cook the food on your own or get it cooked at home. Do not go for canned foods. They are rich in phosphorus and sodium in a great amount. Which Salt Is Good For Kidney Patients.
  • Eat a less quantity of food that contains a high amount of salt.
  • Check the ingredient list before consumption of packed and processed foods. They have been mentioned about the hidden salts they have used in the making of that food. Check under the more information section printed underneath the ingredient list.

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Is It Possible To Overdose On Salt

Fatal salt overdoses are rare, as they require people to consume amounts of salt nearing 0.20.5 grams per pound of body weight. This would amount to 3570 grams of salt for a person weighing 154 pounds .

People with health conditions like heart failure, as well as liver or kidney disease, may experience fatal effects if they routinely consume more than 10 grams of sodium per day. Thats equivalent to around 25 grams of salt .

Research suggests that the average individual currently consumes around 912 grams of salt per day, with processed foods being the highest contributor (

Blood Vessel Health Matters

The kidneys have thousands of tiny blood vessels and arteries. The blood enters through the renal artery, is filtered, and then removed through the renal vein. If these veins are damaged, it will severely impact their ability to work. Over time, fewer toxins will be able to be filtered from the blood, causing more damage.

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Reducing Sodium Is A Challenge What Can We Do

When you look at the menus of fast food, fast casual and even high-end restaurants, you will see that its very easy to exceed the recommended daily intake of 1500 mg of sodium. Unfortunately, the American palate has become so used to high sodium foods, anything with a normal amount of salt tastes downright boring. Further, some dishes, including soups, that you would think are very healthy, may contain upwards of 2000, 3000 or even 4000 mg of sodium. The bottom line its hard to get away from sodium.

However, we often recommend that patients reduce their sodium intake significantly by cutting out fast food, checking labels on the goods they buy in the store and prioritizing fresh fruits and vegetables. Doing so has immediate health benefits in the form of reducing blood pressure and strain on the kidneys and other organs of the body. Over the long term, fresh food begins to taste better, and we realize very quickly that we do not need so much sodium in our daily lives.

Just as with any lifestyle change, reducing sodium is difficult and requires an understanding and appreciation of how it affects our bodies. While sodium is a necessary nutrient to stay healthy, excess sodium has become a hallmark of the American diet. Reducing sodium can go a long way to eliminating many of the diseases associated with high blood pressure and obesity while also enjoying what we eat.

Spice Blends With Salt

How sodium affects your kidneys

Most spice blends you buy at the grocery store contain salt. For example, taco seasoning has a surprising amount of sodium in it. Many other spice mixes such as grilling seasoning, BBQ rubs, Italian seasoning, mesquite seasoning and stir fry seasoning have salt in them.

Not only do spice blends with salt add unnecessary salt to your food, they are expensive! Salt is very inexpensive, compared to dried herbs and spices. Salt is used as a filler in many spice blends. Save money and make your own salt free version at home!

Not all spice blends have salt in them. It is very product-specific. Always make sure to read Nutrition Facts labels to check for sodium content. You can also check out the ingredients to make sure salt is not added.

It is better to mix your own seasoning blend at home. Try this salt-free taco seasoning. Or, you can find many salt-free seasoning blends in the grocery store as well .

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Recommendations For Consuming Salt

  • Use sea salt or grainy sea salt, which is one of the most nutritious salts for the body because it isnt refined.
  • Plant-based salt or tamari is one of the most nutritious salts around because it contains a 100% soy sauce. Remember, however, to still not use too much of it.
  • Avoid using too much salt. A lot of foods contain their own salts, which is why you dont need to use salt. Remember that the taste buds get used to salty things, so try getting used to using less and less salt each day.
  • Dont think that just by exercising a lot you are eliminating a lot of salt via sweat. If you are consuming more than the necessary amount, your kidneys will become overloadedand your skin will need to work more to eliminate the sweat. This could cause skin problems. So its best to avoid consuming more than 4 grams a day.
  • Avoid heavily seasoned dishes because these generally contain a lot of salt.
  • Drink two liters of water a day, at least, to keep the body hydrated. If you have excess salt, it will help eliminate it more quickly.
  • If you have kids at home, try to get used to eating foods with very little salt. Try to give them fruits and vegetables as they are naturally. Although they might not taste that good to you, they could get used to eating fruits and vegetables without adding anything extra to them, which will give them a healthier life. They will also have a more refined palate, sensitive to natural flavors.

The Right Balance Between Too Little And Too Much Salt

Public awareness about a potentially adverse role of high sodium chloride consumption was first raised by a study in Finland . In that prospective study on 1173 men and 1263 women, 24-h urinary sodium excretion was measured at baseline. A 17-year follow-up documented that a high sodium intake predicted mortality, particularly in males and overweight individuals .

Unfortunately, there is a paucity of high-quality prospective randomized controlled intervention trials investigating whether a lower than currently usual level of dietary salt intake improves long-term outcome. Only two prospective intervention trials have been conducted. Long-term follow-up data of these trials provided evidence that reducing salt intake confers cardiovascular protection. In the TOPH I and TOPH II trials 3126 men and women received comprehensive education and counselling on reducing salt intake. The participants were randomized to intervention, i.e. dietary sodium reduction or usual care, for a duration of 18 months or 3648 months . In TOPH I, a net reduction in the daily sodium excretion of 44 mmol/24 h was achieved and in TOPH II a reduction of 33 mmol/24 h . Although the effect on blood pressure during the intervention was unimpressive, after a 1015-year follow-up, the risk of cardiovascular events was 25% lower in the intervention group .

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Effects Of Altered Dietary Salt Intake In Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

AMY CRAWFORD-FAUCHER, MD, FAAFP, Forbes Family Medicine Residency Program, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

R. MICHAEL HUIJON, MD, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, St. Margaret Family Medicine Residency Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Am Fam Physician. 2017 Apr 1 95:423-424.

The System Has Time Lags In It

Know Why You Should Limit Your Salt Intake

If you change your salt intake abruptly, it can take 3-4 days for the kidneys to catch up. So the 24 hour urine you collected may not represent your true state, being either on the rising or the falling side of the hill.

Likewise for a period of sudden increased sweating, or discontinuation of a usual workout routine.

Try to collect 24 hour urines during a time when salt intake is steady and represents your overall average.

Never collect during a brief intestinal illness when salt losses can be from diarrhea or vomiting.

Because of lagging urine sodium, blood volume and therefore urine calcium and even blood pressure respond roughly to a 4 day running average of salt intake.

So you can make up for a binge by a day or two of abstinence.

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What Exactly Is Sugar

There are a quite a few different types of sugars and each has a distinct sweet flavor. Sugar serves as an energy source for the body. Various types include fructose, glucose and sucrose. Each of these sugars is processed by the body a little differently.

Fresh and prepared foods often contain natural sugars and/or processed sweeteners. In moderation, natural sugars can be good for you, but consuming too much table sugar or too many processed sugars or sweeteners can lead to health problems such as weight gain, diabetes and obesity.

How Does Hsp Affect The Kidneys

In about half of children with HSP, the kidneys are affected. The tiny blood vessels in the kidneys, which filter blood to remove extra water, salt and waste into the urine, become inflamed. This causes the kidneys to ‘leak’ blood cells and proteins into urine. This is sometimes called HSP nephritis.

Is HSP a rare disease?

Henoch-Schönlein purpura is a rare inflammatory disease of the small blood vessels and is usually a self-limited disease. Inflammatory changes associated with HSP can also develop in the joints, kidneys, digestive system, and, in rare cases, the brain and spinal cord .

Is HSP an auto immune disease?

Henoch-Schönlein purpura is an autoimmune disease . In the case of HSP, the small blood vessels in the skin become inflamed and start leaking red blood cells, which causes a purplish, bruise-like rash on the legs, buttocks, and arms.

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High Sodium Intake And Other Health Conditions

Excessive sodium intake has also been linked to other conditions, such as:

A high level of salt intake increases the amount of calcium excreted in the urine, which may also contribute to osteoporosis and increased risk of fracture.The balance of sodium and water in the body can also be disrupted if there is not enough water. This may be caused by a damaged thirst mechanism or by limited access to water. Hypernatremia is a very serious condition that occurs when your sodium levels rise above 145 milliequivalents per litre . It can lead to death. A major symptom is thirst and treatment usually involve controlled water replacement.

Why Are The Kidneys So Important

Salt Water Paradox – How the Kidneys React to Increased Sodium Concentration

Most people know that a major function of the kidneys is to remove waste products and excess fluid from the body. These waste products and excess fluid are removed through the urine. The production of urine involves highly complex steps of excretion and re-absorption. This process is necessary to maintain a stable balance of body chemicals.

The critical regulation of the body’s salt, potassium and acid content is performed by the kidneys. The kidneys also produce hormones that affect the function of other organs. For example, a hormone produced by the kidneys stimulates red blood cell production. Other hormones produced by the kidneys help regulate blood pressure and control calcium metabolism.

The kidneys are powerful chemical factories that perform the following functions:

  • remove waste products from the body
  • remove drugs from the body
  • balance the body’s fluids
  • release hormones that regulate blood pressure
  • produce an active form of vitamin D that promotes strong, healthy bones
  • control the production of red blood cells

Below you will find more information about the kidneys and the vital role they play in keeping your body functioning.

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Impact Of Salt Intake On The Response To Renoprotective Interventionin Particular Renin

In the debate over the possible merits of low sodium intake, it might be useful to distinguish between the effects of diet as such in subjects without medication, and the effects of low dietary sodium as an amplifier of the benefit of well-established treatments, e.g. reninangiotensinaldosterone system blockade and others. As RAAS blockade is evidence-based first-line treatment in CKD as well as in heart failure, and a main treatment in essential hypertension, this issue deserves more consideration in the salt debate.

Effect of dietary salt reduction, hydrochlorothiazide and their combination on proteinuria in proteinuric patients treated with losartan. Figure reproduced with permission.

Annual event rate end-stage-renal-disease according salt intake in non-diabetic patients and diabetic nephropathy patients . *Salt intake was estimated from 24-h sodium excretion in both trials.

Finally, the benefits of dietary sodium reduction appear to go beyond renal and cardiovascular disease. In the elderly population, which constitutes a major cohort of patients with chronic kidney disease, low sodium intake has also beneficial effects on the preservation of cognitive performanceillustrating that one has to look at the patient in his or her entirety and not simply at one organ or one disease .

Who Are At The Risks

Anyone can get caught by kidney diseases. But there are few factors that are at risks:

  • Diabetic patient
  • High blood pressure

How does salt contribute to increasing the risks of kidney disease?

Excess of anything is dangerous. So does the salt. Consuming too much salt will adversely affect your body parts. Following is the list of salt contributing to the risks of kidney diseases:

  • Blood pressure: High consumption of salt is directly linked to higher levels of blood pressure. Too much salt increases the blood pressure which will affect the functioning of kidneys.Which Salt Is Good For Kidney Patients.
  • Heart health: Too much salt consumption will affect heart health it creates the shortness of breath.
  • Kidney functioning: If you are already a kidney patient then it will affect the kidneys functioning. Even if you are not a kidney patient then also it is necessary to limit the consumption of salt. Excess consumption of salt will obstruct the balancing of fluids and will cause bloating.

Salt is a preservative that was used to store food for a long period of time. But our taste buds are habitual of tasting salt every day and hence we consume more amount of salt than its required. An adult should consume a maximum of 6grams a day. 6 grams = 1.25 tablespoon. Which Salt Is Good For Kidney Patients.

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What Conclusions Can Be Drawn For Patients With Ckd From The Above Incomplete Data

The issue of optimal salt intake in the general population, and particularly in patients with CKD, is highly controversial. Given the evidence currently available, dogmatic ex cathedra statements are certainly not appropriate. As in the general population, there is currently no evidence to assume that reducing salt intake to 56 g/day causes harm or adverse effects in cardiovascular patients and patients with CKD. In the above-mentioned studies, no systematic adverse effects were noted with this intake. Having said this, it is wise to pay attention to some practical points. In all patients, sodium excretion should be monitored in 24-h urine collections, blood pressure control should be performed in the sitting and standing position . Higher salt intake may be appropriate during episodes of, or in patients with, sodium loss, e.g. diarrhoea, vomiting etc.

Controlled gold standard evidence has not been provided by prospective controlled trials documenting less cardiovascular or renal events as a result of reducing dietary salt intake per se. Nevertheless, convincing studies show that reduction of sodium intake lowers blood pressure in essential hypertension.

Conflict of interest statement. None declared.

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