In article
>,
Cindy Hamilton > wrote:

> On May 5, 10:22*am, Krypsis > wrote:
> > On 5/05/2011 7:28 AM, Jerry Avins wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > On May 4, 5:09 pm, > *wrote:
> > >> "Dave > *wrote in message
> >
> > >>news
> >
> > >>> Kent wrote:
> >
> > >>>> The author has very substantial credentials. His data should be looked
> > >>>> carefully. *I too have questions. A large fraction of all people being
> > >>>> treated for hypertension are on a drug that depletes sodium, and
> > >>>> therefore your blood volume to reduce blood pressure. If I can find
> > >>>> the actual text, I'll report back.
> >
> > >>> I believe that it is potassium, not sodium, which can be depleted which
> > >>> is
> > >>> the reason potassium supplements are usually Rx'd along with the
> > >>> diuretic.
> > >>> I would be interested in your cite for your observation about
> > >>> hypovolemia
> > >>> since the target for diuretics is related to a buildup of extracellular
> > >>> fluid in a person's body, which is not directly connected to blood
> > >>> volume.
> >
> > >>> --
> > >>> Dave
> >
> > >> Plasma, that portion of blood less the red blood cells, or about 60% by
> > >> volume, is is part of your extracellular fluid. It has a solute
> > >> concentration of about 300 mille-osmoles per liter, corresponding to .9%
> > >> sodium chloride, by weight. That's iso-osmolarity. The body maintains
> > >> that.
> > >> When you deplete sodium, as with a diuretic, you decrease blood volume,
> > >> and
> > >> your blood pressure drops. You can become sodium depleted, not usually a
> > >> clinical issue. Hypokalemia, on the other hand, can lead to significant
> > >> acute cardiac problems. You have to be careful to take your potassium
> > >> chloride. As you know, you can buy it at your local supermarket.
> >
> > >> The side effects of hydrochlorothiazide include hypokalemia[potassium
> > >> wasting], hypercalcemia, hypomagnesemia, metabolic alkalosis,
> > >> hyponatremia[sodium wasting], hyperuricemia, hyperglycemia,
> > >> hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. As above hypokalemia has
> > >> a
> > >> direct affect on cardiac rhythm, and can cause a cardiac catastrophe.
> >
> > > Which summarizes why I was so ****ed at my doctor for prescribing a
> > > diuretic when care with diet would have sufficed.
> >
> > > Jerry
> >
> > I have been following a relatively low salt diet for nigh on 40 years. I
> > just stopped adding it to food at the table and during cooking and also
> > avoided high salt processed foods. At 73, my blood pressure, when tested
> > some 6 months ago, was a nice steady 120 over 80. My family doctor
> > couldn't believe because I am a tad on the overweight side it so checked
> > it again with the same result.
>
> I eat salt like it's going out of style. My blood pressure is
> somewhere
> in the 110/70 to 120/80 neighborhood. I'm morbidly obese,
> middle-aged, and sedentary.
>
> It's not about the salt.

As I understand it, as explained by my doctor: For *some* people, it is
"all about the salt". For most folks, though, dietary salt has little to
no effect on blood pressure.

Isaac