Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Why Excess Salt Can Cause Hypertension?

Sodium in the salt actually helps maintain blood pressure, muscle contraction, nerve cell transmission, and maintain water balance, acid and alkaline in the body.

However, salt intake should not be more than 6 grams a day or up to 2300 mg of sodium a day. High salt content in the body can cause difficulties to kidney by narrowing the renal artery, thus restricting the blood flow. As a result, the kidneys release a hormone called renin and angiotensin, which increases pressure to peripheral blood vessels, and lead to hypertension.

More → Why Excess Salt Can Cause Hypertension?