What are salts?
- Are crystalline compounds of ions of metallic elements such as sodium, potassium and calcium, with a negative or negatively charged root or ion such as chloride, iodide and phosphate.
- For example sodium chloride (table salt), potassium chloride and calcium phosphate.
- These salts are found in different places of the body such as blood, urine and bones.
- The ions of these salts (positively and negatively charged) are called electrolytes
- Salts control many physiological functions such as control of the water content of the body's cells, transfer of nerve impulses.
Why are some salts deposited in the body?
Some salts are deposited in the body because their solubility in water is low (soluble salts), such as uric acid salts, deposited in the acidic process, causing acidic uric acid, so it makes alkaline base and drinking water helps dissolve these stones.
Calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate are also low-soluble salts precipitate and cause almost two-thirds of total kidney stones.
What is the source of the salts?
Salts are an essential component of the body and are also obtained from the food we eat. Therefore, increasing the intake of salts increases the amount of salts in the body (especially canned foods that contain a large amount of sodium).
What is the result of increased salts in the body?
Soluble salts such as uric acid salts and calcium oxalate precipitate and cause stones in the kidney and ureters. Increased sodium salts raise the risk of high blood pressure and other heart diseases such as myocardial infarction and angina. Increased potassium salts lead to dangerous changes in the cardiac muscle, such as arrhythmias and palpitations.
What are the general symptoms of increasing salts in the body?
- arrhythmia.
- Intestinal or renal colic.
- Spasm and muscle weakness.
- a headache.
- Diarrhea or constipation.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Edema (in the hands and feet area).
What causes the increase of salts in the body?
- Eating too much salt in food.
- Do not drink enough water and fluids because water makes up 70% of the body's components.
- Exposure to dehydration due to sweating, vomiting and continuous diarrhea.
- Loss of fluid due to burns.
- Take some drugs that cause the retention of salts inside the body such as lithium and corticosteroids.
- Certain diseases, such as kidney disease, thyroid gland, certain types of tumors, Addison's disease and some lung diseases.
- Hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy (due to increased estrogen hormones and progesterone).
Treatment of excess salts in the body.
Drink plenty of water
An average adult needs two and a half liters of water a day
This also varies depending on weather and physical activity
Water is important in stimulating the body to dissolve salt and stimulate the work of the kidneys to generate urineToo many diuretics.
Cucumber, watermelon, onion, parsley and melon
Because they contain high amounts of water.Eat plenty of high-potassium and low-sodium foods.
Orange juice
Apricot
Avocado
Dairy productsReduce the amount of salt placed on food.
Reduce intake of salty foods, pickles and canned foods.
pharmaceutical.
- Thiazide diuretics (such as hydrochlorothiazide), which release sodium, potassium and magnesium.
- (Such as furosemide), where sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium are subtracted.
- Drugs that make alkaloids alkaline, allowing the dissolving of uric acid stones.
- Alopurinol, which reduces the production of uric acid.
source: https://www.altibbi.com