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Salt

lindisfel said:
Are talking about Afib?
If so you need potassium not salt.
Salt causes the body to lose potassium.
Derek
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Never had potassium level problems. Salt and magnesium usually does the trick and if not I go for a quick run. Getting the heart to do a bit of hard work helps with getting it back to normal rhythm.
 
lindisfel said:
Does your anticoagulant therapy affect your diabetes?
Who suggested you take salt for a.fib?
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Not on anticoagulants, only beta blockers. And no, nobody has recommended salt but it works for me. I discovered it for myself. I have however at times had rather low sodium level and low BP.
 
My grandmother died over 50 years ago at the age of 90 she was always being told by her doctor to stop having salt as it hardenend the arteries. She loved salt and always told the doctor that she could not eat her food without it and would continue to have it. Then salt was always used in cooking especially the vegetables as well as at the table .She never had any serious illnesses or heart problems and just died of old age so I wonder would she have lived longer without all that salt
 
Its like the old lady of 105 who was a chain smoker!! :-) :-)
D.
Perhaps she would have lived to over 100 with less salt?
 
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Hi Toto,
If you really have afib the doctor would put you on anticoagulant therapy because you would be liable to have a stroke.
I see you are on beta blockers, my bp would be down now on those. Reducing bp/benefits is a j curve and there are more problems if it is reduced too much.
However using beta blocker and salt is like driving with your foot on the brake and accelerator at the same time.
Ask your doctor before you try salt therapy, you already have problems with your ticker.
D.
 
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lindisfel said:
Hi Toto,
If you really have afib the doctor would put you on anticoagulant therapy because you would be liable to have a stroke.
I see you are on beta blockers, my bp would be down now on those. Reducing bp/benefits is a j curve and there are more problems if it is reduced too much.
However using beta blocker and salt is like driving with your foot on the brake and accelerator at the same time.
Ask your doctor before you try salt therapy, you already have problems with your ticker.
D.
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It was a joint decision not to put me on anticoagulants. And the beta blockers are mostly used when nothing else helps and the cardiologist was a bit reluctant to prescribe them as my heart rate is low too. My cardiologist and I get along very well.

Can't say I notice any effect of salt on my BP at all. Suppose we are all different.
 
I noticed some of you were talking about A. Fib. After 3 cardio versions and one catheter ablation for A fib, I now find that if my heart goes out of rhythm at all a dose of magnesium puts it back into normal rhythm within minutes. Just saying in case anyone is interested. :)
 
Thanks Zand I will try magnesium but I have a pacemaker and do not know when I am in afib now.
My heart was pausing as well as having slow afib.
D.
 
It is good there was a joint decision Toto you know the risks and weighed them against the disadvantages/advantages.
Years ago when I was on bb's I did not feel normal, sort of disconnected from the world.
D.
 
Totto said:
Normal salt intake, not high.

Like this for example http://ajh.oxfordjournals.org/content/26/10/1218.full.pdf+html
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Spot on with the numbers, but it more contradicts your conclusion, and supports other's recommendations on here.


'it is reasonable to conclude that the estimated healthy range for human sodium intake is 120–220 mmol/d'

'Specifically, individuals being treated for high blood pressure or diabetes might benefit by moving from the higher end of this normal intake range to the lower end'

So, about 6g of salt, if you accept the full report you linked to, and use the actual figures in the report..

In your case, as you seem to being treated by medication for heart and/or BP related issues, it would suggest possibly others not on medication may not have the advantage of your method of counteracting the effects of the high end of the salt range, which is well below the 15g you quoted.
 
SunnyExpat said:
Spot on with the numbers, but it more contradicts your conclusion, and supports other's recommendations on here.


'it is reasonable to conclude that the estimated healthy range for human sodium intake is 120–220 mmol/d'

'Specifically, individuals being treated for high blood pressure or diabetes might benefit by moving from the higher end of this normal intake range to the lower end'

So, about 6g of salt, if you accept the full report you linked to, and use the actual figures in the report..

In your case, as you seem to being treated by medication for heart and/or BP related issues, it would suggest possibly others not on medication may not have the advantage of your method of counteracting the effects of the high end of the salt range, which is well below the 15g you quoted.
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the estimated healthy range for
human sodium intake is 120–220 mmol/d (2,800–5,000 mg/d). That takes us to 7-12,5 grams of salt per day.
 
Totto said:
I don't think going too low on salt is a good idea, nor is going too high. Keep an eye on that BP as already 135 is a bit on the high side.

You don't need extra salt if your intake already is adequate. Normal is around 10-15 grams of salt, easily confused with the recommendations for sodium which is a much lower number. If you have symptoms of low salt level, try half a teaspoon in a small glass of water but if no symptoms there can be reason to add salt. Are you on BP meds?
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Totto said:

the estimated healthy range for
human sodium intake is 120–220 mmol/d (2,800–5,000 mg/d). That takes us to 7-12,5 grams of salt per day.
Click to expand...

I am glad you have corrected your previous post, particularly for those posters, like myself, who do not take meds for heart/BP conditions.
 
SunnyExpat said:
I am glad you have corrected your previous post, particularly for those posters, like myself, who do not take meds for heart/BP conditions.
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Sorry, forgot to answer you previous post. I can't take beta blockers on a daily basis due to my low BP and low heart rate.
 
Hi Toto,
That is somewhat bizarre, taking and not taking a med. If you already have a slow heart rate and low bp, beta blockers could stop your heart.

I could not take them for slow afib and I had high bp. Actually a lot of people with heart issues are on the aldosterone antagonist Spironolactone and the implications of stopping aldosterone working are obvious... too much sodium causes heart failure and afib.
I would get that reviewed by a second opinion.
D.
 
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lindisfel said:
Hi Toto,
That is somewhat bizarre, taking and not taking a med. If you already have a slow heart rate and low bp, beta blockers could stop your heart.

I could not take them for slow afib and I had high bp. Actually a lot of people with heart issues are on the aldosterone antagonist Spironolactone and the implications of stopping aldosterone working are obvious... too much sodium causes heart failure and afib.
I would get that reviewed by a second opinion.
D.
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Thank you for your advice and concern. There is however nothing wrong with my heart as such, only it goes out of normal rhythm now and then. Maybe I'm not taking it as seriously as I should but I have the greatest confidence in my cardiologist and besides, I went for years with this strange rhythm and nobody took it very seriously. In fact I was usually ignored or fobbed off with it probably being nerves.

I wouldn't be surprised if men in their late forties or early fifties were treated differently.

I know it's tricky with AF and low BP and low pulse but I have great support and can call cardiology at the hospital any time. The good thing is that since I was diagnosed with AF last summer I haven't been to a&e, not once.
 
Totto said:
Thank you for your advice and concern. There is however nothing wrong with my heart as such, only it goes out of normal rhythm now and then. Maybe I'm not taking it as seriously as I should but I have the greatest confidence in my cardiologist and besides, I went for years with this strange rhythm and nobody took it very seriously. In fact I was usually ignored or fobbed off with it probably being nerves.

I wouldn't be surprised if men in their late forties or early fifties were treated differently.

I know it's tricky with AF and low BP and low pulse but I have great support and can call cardiology at the hospital any time. The good thing is that since I was diagnosed with AF last summer I haven't been to a&e, not once.
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And with no offense meant, that was why I think it is very important to advise your condition to others, when advising on a high(er) salt level, for those of us without cardiology support, and who may never have seen a&e.
 
SunnyExpat said:
And with no offense meant, that was why I think it is very important to advise your condition to others, when advising on a high(er) salt level, for those of us without cardiology support, and who may never have seen a&e.
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And you still don't get it! I don't advocate a high salt intake, only that salt isn't anything to be afraid of. IF someone has high BP that is raised by salt, of course it's a good idea to be careful. For the vast majority this isn't a problem. Those who have problems with high BP are wise to seek medical help. Obviously. For many others low salt intake can be quite as much of a problem.

This thread started with the question if it was mandatory to supplement with salt when on LCHF. My answer was no. It still is. I do however question the advice given we should restrict salt intake to a very low level as there seems to be very little, if any, valid scientific data for this.
 
I'm sure we agree with the advice then. I would never dream to speak for your specific condition, but I agree with the advice you quoted in your link for diabetics.

'Specifically, individuals being treated for high blood pressure or diabetes might benefit by moving from the higher end of this normal intake range to the lower end'

6, (or 7) g of salt seems to be the figure we both suggest as a daily intake for diabetics?
 
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