Question

What is salt sensitivity?

Answer 1

Salt sensitivity:

1. It is defined as the change in blood pressure with a change in salt intake.
2. In salt-sensitive patients, kidneys retain most of the salts due to abnormal activation of the adrenergic/sympathetic system.
3. It leads to the suppression of the Renin-Angiotensin mechanism.
4. When there is an increased salt intake, the volume of extravascular fluid is increased leading to increased cardiac output.
5. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, muscle cramps, etc.