DIET SALT LEVELS KEY TO SAFE BLOOD PRESSURE

When you’re dealing with diet and blood pressure issues, it’s the numbers that count the most.

The current standard is that blood pressure should be less than 120/80, said Dr. Ralph McCleskey, cardiologist at Cardiology Consultants. He said that blood pressure of 140/90 is considered to be an early stage of high blood pressure.

The primary ways to keep blood pressure under control is through diet, exercise or medication.

Just because you feel good does not mean that your blood pressure is at a healthy level.

High blood pressure is a culprit that lurks silently — and you may not know it until it emerges as something far more serious.

High blood pressure represents a three-pronged danger: it affects the brain, creating the possibility of a stroke; it affects the heart, creating the potential for a heart attack; and it affects the kidneys, thus possibly bringing on kidney failure, McCleskey said.

Diet is one way to help improve, if not control, high blood pressure. And fast food meals can be part of the problem.

“There are a lot of hidden salts in fast food that can cause blood pressure problems,” said Dr. LaNoard Bayouth, cardiologist at Abilene Regional Medical Center.

“The Whopper has about 1,500 milligrams of salt in it, and a healthy amount of salt is about 2,000 mg a day,” McClesky said. “If you eat one whopper, you have almost all of the salt that you will be allowed for the day.”

At the grocery store, shoppers can make healthy choices as well.

“When you go to the grocery store, you should stick around the outside aisles where you see milk, dairy, protein and the other healthy foods,” said Heather Ray, neurology nurse manager at Hendrick Health System. “When you get to the center of the store, you are looking at the foods that have been modified and packaged differently.”

People should become aware of how their bodies respond to salt.

“Some people can be salt sensitive and have a very acute effect and high blood pressure immediately,” said Kay Durilla, nursing program manager at Taylor County Health Department. “In other people, it can take a toll over time.”

Despite the problems caused by too much salt, it should not be avoided altogether.

“It is normal to have a certain amount of salt, or sodium chloride, in your blood,” McClesky said. “If you have a routine blood test, it will measure how much sodium and how much chloride you have in your blood, and it needs to be maintained in a certain range to maintain normal health. Having a high amount of sodium, blood and water increases your blood volume and causes your blood pressure to go up.”

Patients with high blood pressure may need be on a no added salt diet. This means they do not salt food or add salt at the table, McCleskey said.

Some people may consider a blood pressure machine to keep on top of blood pressure. A good quality blood pressure machine that you can use at home only costs about $50, McCleskey said.

Monitoring the numbers and making wise food choices are two ways to take charge of high blood pressure.

Posted by Kirace