Have you ever thought that increasing salt consumption in summer might be important?
We doctors constantly tell our patients not to eat too much salt because it raises blood pressure, etc.
However, we often forget to add that in summer — when you sweat a lot — adequate salt consumption can actually save your life.
Why is salt consumption important in summer?
When your body lacks salt, it starts pulling fluid out of the blood vessels into the surrounding tissues (even in the brain).
As a result, your legs may swell, you may develop a headache, feel nauseous and generally unwell.
The loss of fluid from the blood vessels leads to dehydration, which makes you feel thirsty.
Then you start drinking more and more, but the thirst doesn’t stop.
You keep drinking and drinking — until you get sick of water, yet you still can’t stop.
And soon you may end up in the hospital.
Instead, eat something salty (chips, salted peanuts), and suddenly the thirst goes away.
Disclaimer
The information above is based on general medical knowledge and personal experience. It is not a substitute for medical advice. If you have high blood pressure, kidney disease or any other chronic condition, please consult your doctor before changing your salt intake or diet.
A Patient story about salt consumption
I have a „patient story” that I have told many times over the years whenever I talk about salt, heat, and feeling ill.
The main character was a carpenter
The main character of this story was a carpenter. Carpenters build roofs, so they always work in the sun — there’s never a roof over their own heads.
One day, our carpenter felt very ill while working on a hot summer day.
He had the same symptoms I described above: severe discomfort, weakness, headache — he basically felt like he was dying.
They called me to see what was wrong with him. I examined him and advised him to eat something salty.
He looked at me very strangely:
“Is this doctor crazy?
“Is this doctor crazy? I’m dying and she’s telling me to eat salt?!”
But he followed my advice and immediately started to feel better.
His opinion changed after salt consumption
Years later I asked him, “Did you really think I was crazy back then?”
He nodded yes — but later, he changed his mind about me.