Q. Does salt actually cause hypertension?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
The short answer to this question is 'Yes'. While there are many factors that can contribute to hypertension (high blood pressure), research has shown that too much dietary intake of salt or sodium can increase the risk of developing hypertension.
When we eat foods with a high content of salt, our body stores the extra salt in our bloodstream, which increases its volume and causes an increase in arterial pressure. When our bodies are unable to get rid of all this excess salt, it eventually leads to prolonged increases in body fluid and consequently higher blood pressure levels.
Studies suggest that reducing your daily intake of sodium from 3-4 grams a day to around 2-2.6 grams a day can have significant effect on lowering blood pressure. In fact, The American Heart Association recommends eating no more than 2.3 grams of sodium per day for adults and children over 11 years old as part of an overall heart-healthy diet plan. Although some people may be able to tolerate more than others without having any adverse health effects due to their physiology or genetic makeup, reducing dietary intake remains the most widely accepted solution for preventing hypertension caused by too much consumption of salt/sodium.
In conclusion then, scientific studies do confirm that excessive dietary intake is one cause for high blood pressure - so yes - reducing your daily consumption does play an important role in helping maintain healthy levels!
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