Salt restriction to reduce high blood pressure.

CateAussie

I have managed to get my BP down from hypertension stage 2( >160/90) to "normal" (<120/<80 in only one month of salt restriction (<1600mg per day) on the advice of a Cardiologist. I have an enlarged Ascending Aorta (it's 3.9cm, instead of 2.4) He did not give me a figure for the sodium, but I decided that <1600mg per day would be a good aim. Salt is hidden in so many things, but the biggest shock was the high amount in my wheat-free oat bread, which does not taste at all salty! I don't think I realised how much sodium is hidden in foods that I was eating. I stopped adding salt to my plate immediately after seeing him. I have an appointment to see him again in about 10 days &, hopefully I can avoid surgery. I feel so much better! There's no point regretting the damage done already as it's too late for that, but salt & I are no longer best friends.

ukaryote

Wonderful progress! Here's hoping for the best that you can avoid surgery.

CateAussie

Thank you. It is such a huge relief! I'm now looking forward to what the Cardiologist says at the end of the month. Since I saw him last I also had a CT scan. Fingers crossed!

CateAussie

The Cardiologist was very impressed with my reduction in BP & is recommending lowering my meds. Very happy! Do your future self a favour & cut down your sodium intake, before it does irreparable damage to your heart!

Dragon67

Hey, CateAussie, just read this post ...well done on the BP reduction. I am from the UK and have high BP, and have recently had a minor stroke (thankfully with barely no side effects), and am looking to reduce my salt intake. If youhave any iin depth tips it would be greatly appreciated. I am looking at packages and my goodness am I surprised.. I eat the small sliced wholemeal bread (400g) loaf, but saw that each SLICE was 5% of my daily salt intake....will definitely be looking around and eating less bread products. Thanks in advance for any info from youor anyone else..

trina1049

I've cut my blood pressure meds in half since losing weight and reducing sodium to 1500 mg per day. I check everything I buy and rarely eat restaurant meals because they're all salt bombs, even the salads. It can be done by shopping wisely and checking for nutrition information at restaurants. When I do eat out, I bring food with me, or ask for a plain chicken breast (no salt), sliced tomatoes (plain), and a steamed veg (no salt added).

markrgeary1

Congratulations!

I am off all meds including the BP meds I was on for 20+ years. Reducing sodium was a big factor. I get around 1800 mg and am just grateful it's working. I was hospitalized three times because of the BP meds. I'm happy to watch what I eat to remove the garbage from my body.

rsleighty

I was shockex also at the amount of sodium I was eating. I try (and fail some days) to stay within the 1500 mg limit recommended by the American Heart Association. It is getting easier. The days I struggle/fail are the days I eat at work. Our head of food services is a good cook but he does love his salt.

JeromeBarry1

I try to keep sodium below 1500 each day. That and the weight loss is bringing my high bp down nicely. The tortilla I have for breakfast and the whole wheat bread I have for dinner are the two biggest salt doses I get. They are only challenged by frozen chicken breast, which is 2 days worth in an 8 oz serving.

Noreenmarie1234

I am in medical school and we are learning it's a proven fact now that reducing salt intake ALONE has absolutely NO correlation with reducing blood pressure. It was false studies that were set out to prove salt=HBP and it is just recently being taught differently.

MelaniaTrump

I bought a blood pressure cuff from walmart and love it.
At home, you get more reliable readings !
Do them in am and pm.
http://www.walmart.com/c/kp/wrist-blood-pressure-monitors
Eat foods rich in potassium and magnesium for your heart.
Skim milk and low sodium v8 are my go-to foods.

trina1049

Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »

I am in medical school and we are learning it's a proven fact now that reducing salt intake ALONE has absolutely NO correlation with reducing blood pressure. It was false studies that were set out to prove salt=HBP and it is just recently being taught differently.

Interesting! Can you add some links to these new studies @Noreenmari1234?

pdxwine

I am envious at those who have gone off BP meds. I had to go on them, in the past three weeks.

Never one to salt things at the table, I eliminated sodium in the ingredients I was using. My BP came down, for awhile, and then went back up. Ugh! I am pretty sure it is stress.

I have lost, to date, 96 pounds...7 more to go to goal (to be back where I used to be).

I have an Omron BP monitor and check twice a day.