Diseases and Low Sodium

Hi!
Hope you are enjoying your fall.
We have had some busy days this past week with corn harvest in full swing and 5 grandchildren running around our house. It's been fun!
This week I am continuing my series on Diseases and Low Sodium (taken from the Mayo Clinic website, by the Mayo Clinic staff)

Primary Aldosteronism

(a type of hormonal disorder that leads to high blood pressure)

Your adrenal glands produce a number of essential hormones. One of these is aldosterone, which balances the sodium and potassium in your blood. In primary aldosteronism, your adrenal glands produce too much aldosterone, causing you to lose potassium and retain sodium. The excess sodium in turn holds on to water, increasing your blood volume and blood pressure.
A healthy lifestyle is essential for keeping blood pressure low and maintaining long-term heart health. Here are some suggestions:
Follow a healthy diet. Limit the sodium in your diet by focusing on fresh foods and reduced-sodium products, avoiding condiments, and removing salt from recipes. Diets that also emphasize a healthy variety of foods - including grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products - can promote weight loss and help to lower blood pressure. Try the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet - it has proven benefits to your heart.
Achieve a Healthy Weight. If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 25 or more, losing as few as 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) may reduce your blood pressure.
Exercise. Regular aerobic exercise can help lower blood pressure. You don't have to hit the gym - taking vigorous walks most days of the week can significantly improve your health. Try walking with a friend at lunch instead of dining out.
Don't Smoke. Quitting smoking will improve your overall cardiovascular health. Nicotine in tobacco makes your health work harder by temporarily constricting your blood vessels and increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. Talk to your doctor about medications that can help you stop smoking.
Limit Alcohol and Caffeine. Both substances can raise your blood pressure, and alcohol can interfere with the effectivenes of some blood pressure medications. Ask your doctor whether moderate alcohol consumption is safe for you.

We hope this gives you some guidelines if you are diagnosed with any of these diseases that can be controlled by reducing the sodium in your diet.
You will feel better!
Have a great week and enjoy the beautiful fall weather.