Does cutting out salt cure high pressure?

Reducing your salt intake is helpful, but that alone isn’t the best way to manage high blood pressure. Find out why losing weight and reducing alcohol intake are much more effective.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common condition often called “the silent killer” because it doesn't always show symptoms.

“You can have significantly high blood pressure without symptoms like a headache or chest pain,” explains Dr Richard Wilson, a specialist physician at Mediclinic Panorama. However, if you do experience symptoms like headaches, shortness of breath, dizziness and chest pain, this is usually a sign that your body is being damaged by the condition.

High blood pressure can damage your blood vessels, leading to neurological, heart or kidney problems like stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure. It can also cause damage your retinas.

“It’s important to go for regular check-ups with your GP, who can detect it and begin treatment as early as possible,” advises Dr Wilson. “Once you’ve already had a heart attack or a stroke, it’s way too late.”

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes won't cure high blood pressure, but they can make it easier to manage. Dr Wilson explains that these changes might even allow you to reduce the number of blood pressure medications you take. 

Surprisingly, cutting out salt is one of the least effective changes for lowering high blood pressure, he adds.

“Losing weight and cutting out alcohol can certainly have a huge impact on reducing high blood pressure. Morbidly obese patients who go for bariatric surgery often find they can stop taking their hypertensive medication completely post-surgery.”

An automated blood pressure device, available at pharmacies, allows you to check your blood pressure at home and monitor your condition.

Causes of high blood pressure

There are many different causes of high blood pressure. Dr Wilson explains that it often runs in families, and black people are more likely to develop the condition.

The good news is that if high blood pressure runs in your family, you are more likely to see a doctor early. If your doctor finds any problems, you can start treatment before other complications develop.

Lifestyle factors that can contribute to high blood pressure include being overweight, drinking too much alcohol, smoking, eating a high-fat diet, and consuming too much salt and processed food.

Less often, high blood pressure can be caused by kidney problems or hormonal conditions like Cushing's disease, adrenal tumours, and sleep apnoea. Pregnancy is also a risk factor for high blood pressure.

Certain medications can raise blood pressure, including nasal decongestants, ADHD treatments, and illegal drugs like cocaine, and meth (known locally as tik).

“High blood pressure is also more common as you get older. If you develop the condition in your later years, it’s more likely a result of your genetics or lifestyle issues,” says Dr Wilson.

If high blood pressure runs in your family, try to live a healthy lifestyle. Avoid things that can contribute to it, like being overweight, drinking and smoking too much, and eating a diet high in fat, salt, and processed foods.

Medical treatment options

There are many different medicines used to treat high blood pressure, and it's usually managed with a combination of drugs. These can include blood pressure medications, water pills (diuretics), and vasodilators, which help relax blood vessels, such as ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers.

“If you take your blood pressure tablets correctly, you will live a longer and healthier life,” says Dr Wilson. “However, as you age, you may become more susceptible to blackouts, poor balance, and falls. Your doctor might reduce the dosage of your high blood pressure medication to help reduce these symptoms.”

Primary hypertension, where no obvious medical is found, is the most common type of hypertension. However, if your high blood pressure is caused by a medical condition, like a tumour on your adrenal gland, it’s known as secondary hypertension. It is estimated that 15% of all cases of secondary high blood pressure are due to an underlying adrenal tumour problem. If the tumour is surgically removed, your high blood pressure should, in theory, be cured.