★ Salt is abundant in sodium. If we ingest too much salt, then excessive sodium will be detained in our body. Retention of sodium will inevitably cause retention of water. Retention of great water and sodium will give rise to the increase of fluid outside the cells, leading to the increase of blood pressure.(High Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease)
★ Due to the concentration gradient, increased sodium outside cells will cause the increase of sodium inside the cells. As a result, intracellular edema appears. Edema of smooth muscle cell in small artery will lead to the narrowing of lumen. Consequently, blood pressure increases.
★ Increase of sodium in cells can restrain the exchange of sodium and potassium, leading to the increase of calcium. These calcium mainly get into cells through susceptibility calcium channel. Increased calcium in the cells of vascular smooth muscle cells will cause the shrink of smooth muscle, leading to the increase of blood pressure.
★ Intake of too much sodium increases the receptor of type Ⅱ angiotensin. Type Ⅱ angiotensin has strong ability of shrinking of blood vessels. Increase of receptor of type Ⅱ angiotensin means the increase of type Ⅱ angiotensin. As a result, high blood pressure appears.
★ Great amount of sodium can suscitate sympathetic nerve centre, causing the increase of hypothalamus norepinephrine and then strengthen the stimulation to hypothalamus neuron, which will increase the blood pressure.
★ Increase of sodium in presynaptic membrane cells of sympathetic nerve ending will promote the release of norepinephrine. Norepinephrine often causes the shrinking of blood vessels, and as a result, blood pressure increase.
Increasing blood pressure through ingesting too much salt is just one of the methods. For patients with Chronic Kidney Disease, ingesting too much salt can not only cause the increase of blood pressure, but also cause the aggravation of swelling. Therefore, in their daily life, they should avoid ingesting too much salt.
