well, well. Just back from doc's office. Now my blood pressure is too LOW!

[CTyankee]

I have been ruthlessly eliminating sodium from my diet and recently began feeling light headed mid morning but fine after I eat. Then I was light headed upon waking up and not feeling normal until after breakfast. Doctor said the body doesn't like going from one extreme to the other suddenly. He still wants me on a low sodium diet but not overzealously so. I was under the impression that low blood pressure was a good thing but he said no, I'd be at risk of a fall.

Now, I don't plan to pig out on a bunch of Chinese food with lots of soy sauce but I am going to moderate my no sodium zealotry. And I still will check the sodium levels in food, eating less in prepared foods, but adding back in a small amount of salt.

He'll check me again in a few weeks and we'll take it from there. He's really holistic and I like that in an MD.

[djean111]

1. Yep. Everybody needs a little sodium!

http://www.webmd.boots.com/a-to-z-guides/hyponatraemia

What are the symptoms of hyponatremia (low blood sodium)?

When sodium levels in the body are low, water tends to enter cells, causing them to swell. When this occurs in the brain, it is referred to as cerebral oedema. Cerebral oedema is particularly dangerous because the brain is confined in the skull without room for expansion, and the swelling can lead to brain damage as the pressure increases within the skull.

In chronic hyponatraemia, in which the blood sodium levels drop gradually over time, symptoms are typically less severe than with acute hyponatraemia (a sudden drop in blood sodium level). Symptoms can be very nonspecific and can include:

Headache
Confusion or altered mental state
Seizures
Decreased consciousness which can proceed to coma and death.
Other possible symptoms include:

Restlessness
Muscle spasms or cramps
Weakness, and tiredness
Nausea and vomiting may accompany any of the symptoms.

Yikes. Also, when your blood pressure gets low enough - for any reason - you die. I had to watch that happen once.

[CTyankee]

2. The trick is how do you know? I don't keep a blood pressure machine at home nor do I

want one. But I had to go to the Emergency Room last year because my bp was soaring! That scared the living hell out of me! I was convinced I was going to die. But when I looked at my diet I noticed I was eating lots of prepared foods which are notoriously high in sodium. I am obviously sodium sensitive. Luckily, I have a doctor monitoring me because how was I to know I had gone to the extreme opposite end?

BTW, my blood work was OK.

[djean111]

3. Maybe just assume that when you are dizzy, you need some sodium?

Or just add one salty thing to your (most effective) diet? I do congratulate you on that, BTW. Sincerely. It is hard to stick to a diet.
Also, yes, boxed processed stuff has a bunch of overpriced chemicals and salt. Yuck.

[CTyankee]

5. Well, I'm going to add a bit of salt to the fish I am cooking tonight. I got to where

even the fresh fish we love was too bland because I didn't season it a bit with salt. I'll still eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. I just finished my lunch (which was some leftover shrimp from last night) and it had just enough sodium so that I feel OK now.

It's still a good habit to be in to avoid prepared stuff. And if I season lightly with salt I'll probably get to a happy medium. My bp checks last fall showed a fall but within the normal range. I would have delighted if they were lower than 120/70 but that's where they were last time. I take some pretty strong bp medication so that's an added factor.

We'll see next month...

[Laffy Kat]

10. But don't forget hypoglycemia can also make you dizzy.

And jittery and headache-y.

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. Do you take diuretics? Usually HBP meds have diuretics in them.

Which of course lowers your sodium.

And, btw....one of my smarter moves was to buy a blood pressure machine for home.
It is the kind that tightens the cuff when you push a button, so that readings are always correct.
I found having it around when I was adjusting to my BP meds was very very helpful, it provided feedback that what I was feeling meant high or low or normal BP.
After awhile I did not need to use it very often, since I had become aware of what different BP levels feel like in my body.
If I suddenly feel "weird" I can take a reading and know what to do.

Being on BP meds means moving from a lying/sitting position to standing can be a bit dizzying sometimes.

[CTyankee]

28. Yes, I do take a diuretic with Losartin HCTZ. It has always been fine and has worked.

I'm wondering if I need to change the dosage...

[eShirl]

27. keep track of the sodium you eat

They're supposed to tell you how much sodium MINIMUM you need, too. DH's target range for his sodium restricted diet is 1,000mg minimum to 2,000mg maximum per day. Just keep reading labels, measure your servings, and keep a running total of your sodium intake for the current day.

[yeoman6987]

4. Doesn't low blood pressure cause strokes?

Be careful. Glad you are with a doctor.

[CTyankee]

6. No, that's high bp. That what got me hospitalized last year...they did a couple of scans and

found I hadn't had a stroke (what they feared). Which is why I am so freaked out now about having my bp taken. I get so anxious I am certain I drive it up out of sheer panic when I look at that damn cuff...

[yeoman6987]

8. Oh thanks

Regardless I hope you get the blood pressure normalized. Best wishes.

[djean111]

7. High blood pressure causes strokes.

Simplistically, high blood pressure means distended and liable to burst blood vessels - when burst, that is a stroke.
Low blood pressure - your body needs to have blood constantly circulating to get oxygen to the brain and such.
Your organs literally shut down.

[tridim]

9. Low sodium is equally as dangerous as high sodium.

The key is to find a good balance with respect to the other electrolytes, potassium, magnesium and chloride.

Eliminating sodium from your diet is not a good idea at all. It will make you feel sick.

Honestly I don't worry about my blood pressure, it fluctuates with activity and rest as it should. People tend to get stressed at the doctor and that raises blood pressure during the test. It's normal.

[Warpy]

25. "White Coat Syndrome"

is well known to raise BP at the doc's office. That's why anyone accused of hypertension needs to buy a cuff and keep a diary, checking the BP three times a day for a couple of weeks and then showing the results to the doc.

There is a positive correlation between ultra high sodium diets and hypertension but little proof that an ultra low sodium diet improves it much beyond decreasing extra fluid load in the body.

[cap]

11. Drink lots of water

Jump up and down, seriously blood pools at your feet and leads to low bp

[CTyankee]

16. I do. I also have sjrogens syndrome which causes a very dry mouth and I need lots of

water. I'm taking a separate med for that but it has to be adjusted because the original dosage of 4 a day was too much and 2 is too little. He told me to take 3. He also said drink lots of water.

[Warpy]

12. Well, there is no such thing as a no sodium diet

which is a good thing since our bodies won't work without it.

Chinese food once in a while as a treat is fine, ask to have yours prepared without MSG, the real source of sodium in Chinese restaurant food. Soy sauce is only a minor source.

I cook most things without salt but I've found things like bread to require it, albeit in smaller amounts than the recipes call for. I've also found a few wicked white granules at the table to pack a much larger punch than a teaspoon of it during cooking. Most of the time, I just don't need it at all. I've been on the "no added salt" diet since I was ten when my parents went on it. I just never got used to eating salty stuff when I grew up.

Your doc is right about low blood pressure. I went splat a couple of weeks ago and broke an ankle on the way down. Trust me, you don't want to break a leg. Or worse.

[CTyankee]

17. Is there an optimal number for mgs of sodium per day?

[Warpy]

18. Everybody's different

and there are several different levels of permissible added salt. Your best guide in that is your doctor.

[SheilaT]

14. Sodium has been inappropriately demonized for a long time.

We really need it to maintain blood volume, among other things.

High blood pressure can be bad, but low blood pressure isn't good in different ways.

If monitoring your blood pressure is important, you can buy a cuff at a drugstore or Target.

[CTyankee]

15. I had one but it malfunctioned and besides I was getting so agitated every time I took it out

I was driving my bp up from stress alone. Now my primary care physician is the only one I allow to take my bp. He takes time to talk to me for a few minutes. Takes the first reading, waits a few more minutes talking to me, then takes it again. It is lower every time. Then the last reading and I'm good, 120/75. And he uses the older meter that he pumps up, not that cuff that tightens. He told me they weren't very accurate.

[Warpy]

19. Try a wrist cuff

They are usually scoffed at as being inaccurate but I've had mine checked against a mercury cuff and it's quite accurate. You just pop it on your wrist, aligning it with your radial artery (in your wrist, north of the thumb), push the button and let it do its thing. It's less traumatic than an upper arm cuff pumping up to 200+.

[CTyankee]

20. thanks I'll look for one...

[Warpy]

21. Walgreen's has them

http://www.walgreens.com/q/wrist-blood-pressure-monitors You can order online if they don't have them in stock. I have the middle one and it runs forever on 2 AA batteries.

Here's the scoop on their accuracy: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/expert-answers/wrist-blood-pressure-monitors/faq-20057802

[CTyankee]

22. Hey, I have a Walgreen's very nearby...what time of day do you take your bp?

[Warpy]

23. Three times a day on any new med

Once a day or more if I feel weird.

Your doc will be your best guide for that, too.

[CTyankee]

24. Is your bp too high or too low? wouldn't that be a factor?

for instance, if I take mine right before I get up, it would probably be low. After breakfast (and coffee) it would probably be higher. By afternoon it might be high if the day had been stressful.

Now I am seeing how these fluctuations depending on my sodium level at any given time can happen. I'm thinking there is no one bp reading during a day...

[MADem]

26. I have one of those--used to need to check my BP during an illness. Worked great! nt

[Celebration]

29. This one is great

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-EW3109W-Portable-Pressure-Monitor/dp/B000NY6JXA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431784776&sr=8-1&keywords=panasonic+blood+pressure+monitor

Rather than add sodium, have you considered cutting back on meds?

Anyway, highly suggest a blood pressure monitor! The more data you have the better able you are to control it.

They say it can't be done, but after being on blood pressure meds for quite awhile, I started having reactions to the meds, and after reading about them decided to quit and made major dietary changes. My blood pressure is fine unless I screw up my routine. Very helpful to have monitor in all of this.

[CTyankee]

30. Thank you for the suggestion. Actually, I was just at my primary care doc's office...

and he said my rheumatologist (who did the other exam) was wrong on the sodium. He thinks it is nearly impossible to have too little sodium. My blood pressure is fine. He also said my light headedness is caused by allergens in the air. He gave me anti-dizziness meds.

I will never again let a receptionist take my blood pressure using an automatic cuff that is slapped on your arm.

I am greatly relieved.

[uppityperson]

33. To get an accurate reading, especially if it is unexpectedly low or high, take it a couple times and

on both arms because it can vary a lot. Automatic cuffs are good if the person is experienced, otherwise doing it by hand and ear, if the person is experienced. If it is high immediately after walking, sit for 5 minutes and try it again as it will usually drop some.

[CTyankee]

34. thanks.

[FrankAB]

31. I have low blood pressure

I've had low blood pressure for a long time. I eat completely raw. There is enough sodium in raw foods to sustain you. I sometimes eat raw cheese and olives. The olives are especially high in sodium, so I have to watch it. If I eat a little too much over a few days, then I get dizzy.

That probably does not help you, but I wonder if quitting salt too fast can have that effect. Maybe you have to taper off.

Sort of a funny story. I used to give blood in college. I ran a lot, so my pressure was always very low. Combine that with the depressed feeling of giving blood cause you're unemployed, and your pressure will be really low. The blood bank always checked your pressure before donating. Once it was 70/30 and the woman said I could not donate. I said, "Oh wait a minute." I jogged in place 20 seconds and asked her to take it again. It was up to 85/45 or something like that, and she let me donate. Oh yeah, my brother would eat pork and try to donate the next day, but would be rejected for too much "fat" in the blood. lol

[uppityperson]

32. If you have low bp, stop a moment when you stand to make sure you don't get faint

It can take an extra moment to get blood pumped back up to your head in that situation. Or do some foot heel-toe pumps and it'll help get blood back up from where gravity took it (feet) to way up in your head. When getting out of bath, can get dizzy due to blood in heated up capillaries and it can take a moment to get it up to your head also.