Do you have low or high blood pressure? Low is not necessarily better, as many are led to believe. Blood pressure (BP) is regulated by your adrenal glands and kidneys. “Normal” blood pressure is 120/80. Low BP is not as common as high BP however, is usually due to dehydration or low adrenal gland function. When the adrenal glands are not functioning as well as they should, a hormone called aldosterone is lowered and that equates to a lower sodium content. Sodium helps retain water and less water equals a lower blood pressure. That is why so many people today are treated with diuretics to lower their blood pressure.
Sodium in the diet does not cause high blood pressure any more than eggs cause high cholesterol. Although excess sodium may further increase already high blood pressure in 30-40 percent of hypertensives, the notion that it is all from salt in the diet is a myth. Following the guidelines on this site for lowering cholesterol will also help lower the blood pressure as narrowing of the arteries is one accepted explanation for high BP. Emotional and nutritional stress is also a big factor with high BP, especially carbohydrate intolerance (more on that topic on this site). Also be sure to read the section “I get dizzy when I stand up” in the Health Symptoms section as many people have high blood pressure because their body has raised it to that level to keep them from passing out.
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