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Sodium and urination.


geordief

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http://www.bbc.com/news/health-39382339

 

Night-time loo trips 'linked to salt in diet'

 

I am wondering what might be the mechanism(s) involved. Salt and water seem so closely linked that (as always in hindsight) it was not already obvious there might be some connection with urination and nocturia.

Edited by geordief
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Years ago, I was a constant tea drinker when I noticed the frequency of my urgency to urinate. Knowing that the caffeine in tea is a diuretic, I stopped drinking tea and all other sources of caffeine. It was difficult, but I get by now with an occasional cup perhaps once a month. However, after suspending my caffeine intake, I continued to wake with urgency at night and morning. By that time, tap-water was the dominant source of my liquid intake until hearing a report about how our city supplied water may contain a whole host of unfiltered drugs flushed into its system as waste byproducts or as disposal through discontinued use. After switching to bottled spring water, my urgency went away. I can now sleep an entire night and not awake having to use the loo. I haven't altered my diet much since then and may even have a higher salt intake. So, I think the jury's still out on this one because my experience convinces me that other factors could be involved.

Edited by DrmDoc
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http://www.bbc.com/news/health-39382339

 

Night-time loo trips 'linked to salt in diet'

 

I am wondering what might be the mechanism(s) involved. Salt and water seem so closely linked that (as always in hindsight) it was not already obvious there might be some connection with urination and nocturia.

 

 

The biological components and reasons for a salty diet possibly increasing necessary nighttime urination are pretty simple, actually. Sodium increases the amount of fluids (water) that your cells absorb and retain. That is, the amount of water they store. So an increase of stored fluids in turn leads to an increase in the amount which must be eliminated.

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The biological components and reasons for a salty diet possibly increasing necessary nighttime urination are pretty simple, actually. Sodium increases the amount of fluids (water) that your cells absorb and retain. That is, the amount of water they store. So an increase of stored fluids in turn leads to an increase in the amount which must be eliminated.

 

If sodium causes retention of fluid, then why urinate more often? That would seem to indicate higher sodium would reduce frequency of urination for any given level of fluid intake.

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Eating salty stuff makes you thirsty

That makes you drink more

That makes you wee more.

 

Why is this news?

It is surprising that a link to nocturia was not made before ( unless it was;but I don't think it was)

 

Low sodium diets are also indicated for high blood pressure -which can apparently make strokes more likely amongst other things.

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I think DrmDoc is on target with this. Our kidneys serve to filter from the blood any materials that are not needed or at higher than appropriate concentrations, and water flow is necessary to flush out those things that are filtered-- meaning more trips. The reactions to Salt and Coffee are just two examples. Bottled water introduces fewer unwanted things. So, unless you drink too much bottled water, forcing your kidneys to reduce the water content of the blood, you can reduce the trip frequency some.

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