Salt..how Much??

[mjan]

When my Auto neuros RN told me to make sure I take my SALT (like I already do).. and drink lots of water..I have NO idea how much.. why? ANd if its a good thing with Hyperpertension??

ANY ideas??

Jan

[Tommyhoney]

Hi.

My Dr. told me to use 4-5 grams (gross) daily. I took florinef, and didn't find the big salt load as necessary. My Bp ran on the high side, but I feel better at that end.

Good Luck with it.

Tommy

[Guest GayleP]

Good question to which I don't have the answer.. I was having BP spikes and lowererd my salt intake and now my BP is running too low. I can't seem to find the right balance anymore.

[Lizzegrl]

I have hbp, and dr. grubb and beverly both told me that "salt is not your friend". They said I should increase my fluids but not my sodium because for me, it isn't good. My pressure spikes up adn down, but tends to run high even on the catapress, so I am supposed to avoid the salt that can make the highs too high.

[morgan617]

Sodium is not your friend if you have hypertension. I have never used it for my POTS. I have hypertension and an inner ear disease, and decided low salt was better than what the salt would do. I despise the taste of salt anyway, so no big deal for me, but many on here are very dependent on it. I'm not sure what the answers is, except it seems most of the people who take the large amounts of sodium do not have hypertension. The answers are never easy are they? morgan

[janiedelite]

My BP goes up with orthostatic stress (especially the diastolic, but both numbers can). I was told at Mayo to increase salt and fluids without any parameters, so I'm kind of feeling my way through it and using trial-and-error!

I know that supine hypertension happens easily with me, so I drink and salt load in the morning first thing and taper off by the end of the day. I also hate having to get up so many times to pee but that seems unavoidable since the morning salt still keeps me more hydrated til the end of the day.

For me, I like G2 as it has 270 mg of sodium in 20 oz, low sugar, and I can get it at costco. I add 1/4 to 1/3 tsp additional table salt and drink it before getting out of bed. The rest of the day, I mostly drink water but I'll occasionally eat a pickle or have some soup if I'm really tachy.

Good luck!

[all4family]

Hi Jan,

For me my blood pressure is erradic. Sometimes very high, sometimes very low. I was worried about the salt, and my blood pressure too, so I just started adding it slow. So far it has actually normalized my B/P slightly. I am not up to the full amount my doctor has told me to take yet, but so far so good. But if I don't drink enough fluid with it I do notice I get a headache. Maybe you could just try increasing a little, and see if it has a positive effect. If it doesn't then let your doctor know before you try any more.

Hugs

Suzy

[potsgirl]

Hola Jan,

I recently saw an ANS specialist at Mayo Clinic, who told me to take approximately 10 GRAMS of salt a day! I couldn't believe it...I am usually hypotensive, however, so I think 4-5 grams might work for you. I'd try to increase it very slowly, and see where you feel the best. Also, keep good track of your BP, I've found that to be the best indicator.

Peace,

potsgirl

[flop]

People who regularly have high BP should not take extra salt unless on a doctors advice and being monitored.

For those of us who tend to have low or normal BP then taking sodium can help boost BP and reduce some of the POTS symptoms. The best way to know if you are taking enough salt is to ask you doctor to order a 24 hour urine collection for urinary sodium. The lab need to measure the total amount of sodium excreeted in mmols/24hr.

Based on a paper by Prof Hainsworth, if your urinanry sodium is less than 170 mmol/24hr then you will probably benefit from increasing salt intake. Add more salt and then retest your urine until you find the right amount for you. I get my 24hr sodium measured about every 6 months to make sure that I am still on track - last reading was 205mmol/24hr which shows that I am taking plenty of salt but not too much. You still need to watch your BP, if it goes too high then cut back on salt.

When I first took extra salt it was as "Slow Sodium" tablets and I took 6 grams per day for 3 months then cut back to 3 grams per day. Now I prefer to sprinkle a tiny amount of Himalayan salt into my drinking water (not so much that you can taste it) and that keeps me on target.

I hope that makes sense!

Flop

[ramakentesh]

Some doctors are steering away from salt for POTS.

Now that studies seem to be indicating the causes of POTS it seems that better treatment protocols will develop rather than the current one (its got bendy pipes so just fill it with more and more fluid and the blood will eventually makes its way to the head and heart).

If you have what some people label the hyperadrenal form of POTS salt is bad.

For me Salt brings on symptoms rather that the opposite. Im not sure why.