Agreed, but isn't it the ratio between potassium and sodium that matters most? Please don't ask me what the ratio is supposed to be!
Hi bluetit,
Its a seesaw affect controlled by the aldosterone/renin ratio.
Aldosterone receptors are in most organ systems. When sodium goes into tissue as controlled by aldosterone, potassium is lost and peed out.
Normally the human body balances the two by homeostasis.
If you have too much of anything it gets outside the limits of control and does damage.
Most medics believes the diet is too high in sodium, hence all the high bp.
The pancreas cannot produce insulin if potassium is low and taking extra sodium will make the situation worse.
Taking both sodium and potassium to my mind is like driving blind with ones feet both on the accelarator and brake.
I personally cannot very easily stop sodium damaging my tissue because I have an aldosterone producing tumour in my right adrenal, producing 20x the normal amount of aldosterone so my feedback system doesnt work.
We also have the R.A.A.S : the renin, aldosterone, angiotensin, system. This is designed to elevate aldosterone if sodium is scarce in famine, so more sodium is retained. It keeps bp up and retains sodium and one stops peeing it out. Aldosterone causes artery restriction which is not good but retains bp in healthy. Hence the use of ace inhibitors and ace2 receptor blockers in those with essential hypertension.
regards
D.
Re: Conn's syndrome.