With the increase in temperatures, there is increase in the sweat-lost water and minerals.
However, in the regular diet, it is recommended to avoid excessive intake of salt, as it is associated with risk of hypertension.
And while it is a good idea to drink plenty of water in such hot weather, but what about the salt intake?
Over use of salt in food can be very dangerous to the human health as it raises the blood pressure and may lead to many health problems.
Over use of salt in food can be very dangerous to the human health as it raises the blood pressure and may lead to many health problems.
More often than not our bodies can get enough sod from salt. Over sweating for a long periods of time may create a sodium deficiency. However, too much salt can not only lead to high blood pressure, such high concentration can be poisonous. It can cause damage to brain cells.
No way, Eating too much salt may raise your blood pressure, and having high blood pressure increases your risk of developing coronary heart disease. So to keep your heart healthy it's important that you don't eat too much salt each day.
Thanks dear Hazim Al Dilaimy Gulzar Shah Maham Muzamil for your insights!
I totally agree that too much salt ingestion is dangerous!
However, we do have daily requirement that needs to be maintained to keep the sodium balance.
So, my question is regarding the daily sodium requirements: is it more in the summer than in the winter time?
Sweating will take the water out, but not the salt, I would think, not much anyway.
Salt is a dehydrating agent, which causes hypertension and other related problem. It is actually not advisable to take excess of it if one wants to avoid the associated health problem resulting from intake of salt.
Dear Dr Mohamad-Hani Temsah
Living in the desert, water loss through sweat is hard to gauge. When I first moved to the desert, I would see construction workers admitted with rhabdomyolitis because of dehydration. It does not happen now as much because the workers drink Gatorade, an electrolyte replacement. Excessive water ingestion or water as the sole source of hydration is dangerous especially if one is not eating a balanced diet. I have had 3 patients with a rare potassium disorder. Temporary paralysis with low potassium levels, each happened during the summer heat, to visitors. They were drinking water and because sweating in the desert doesn't always show visible water loss, they didn't realize they were in trouble until they collapsed. We had to intubate one person, it was so serious. So, I caution visitors and patients don't just drink water.
brigid
As sweat contains salt & water , it is essential that extra salt replacement is essential ( 2-3 grams ) during summer along with water , though water loss may be more than salt . As summer continues , the body adapts & less salt is lost . The body , through the kidneys , can eliminate if extra salt is consumed & there is no threat of salt retention , unless there is a kidney disease . Water depletion can induce thirst which is a sign to replace water & in summer a small quantity of salt in addition , would be enough .
Dear Sir, The real requirements is all the electrolyte constituent and the sodium and chloride all are required in very adequate level --- neither extra nor less whether summer or winter as the body take as per the thermal regulation with the water balance in conditional consideration to maintain its very normal Physiological functions of the human body.
Dear Sir, being a General Physician from Sri Lanka, I see a lot of patients in particular elderly with hyponatremia. Most of them on a thiazide diuretic less often on ACEI or ARBs. This postulate an important aspect in the care of hypertension whether the tropical nations should advise salt restriction and whether thiazides are the first line antihypertensive agent of this population. We have to think twice before prescription!!!!
Over intake in food is dangerous, Salt is a dehydrating substance.
@ Thirunakarasu Kumaran,
I agree with you that thiazide diuretic in combination with other drugs can cause hyponatremia in the elderly with serious consequences & therefore caution is needed in prescribing them in the elderly . This would need frequent investigation to rule out hyponatremia & this is not feasible . I endorse your view that thiazide can be avoided in elderly in tropical countries .
@ Tajudeen Abdul Hameed,
The body can sense water depletion by thirst mechanism & replace adequately . But there is no such mechanism to evaluate Salt depletion & therefore replacement is empirical . Fortunately , the kidneys can regulate salt excess by eliminating them . The salt content of sweat varies among individuals making it difficult to quantify the amount lost . Water loss cause hypernatremia ( CNS manifestation ) , while salt loss cause volume depletion . Water loss is a disorder of osmolarity ( intracellular depletion ) while salt loss is a disorder of volume ( extracellular depletion ) .
الاعتدال في تناول ملح الطعام في كل الاوقات وتحت كل الظروف ضرورة صحية لتجنب ارتفاع ضغط الدم
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