Cardiologist warns: This food raises blood pressure and hurts your heart
Salty foods can raise blood pressure (Photo: Freepik)
The habit of snacking on salty foods in the evening can have serious health consequences, even though many people are unaware of the danger. Evening salt intake is far more harmful than daytime consumption, as it disrupts the body’s natural recovery processes, according to Ukrainian cardiologist Olena Solomko.
Why salt at night affects blood pressure
According to the specialist, excess salt primarily interferes with the normal nighttime drop in blood pressure. Under normal conditions, blood pressure gradually falls during sleep, allowing the heart and blood vessels to rest.
However, high sodium intake disrupts this process, placing greater strain on the cardiovascular system.
“When blood pressure doesn’t drop at night, the body cannot fully recover. This increases the risk of cardiovascular events, which most often occur in the early morning hours,” the doctor explains.
Another reason to avoid salty foods before bed is how the kidneys function. At night, they work more slowly and are less effective at removing sodium. This leads to fluid retention, which can cause swelling and a feeling of heaviness upon waking.
Excess salt can also disrupt sleep. It stimulates the nervous system, triggers intense thirst, and increases the need to urinate. As a result, people wake up during the night and fail to reach the deep sleep phases necessary for full recovery.
During the day, the body partially compensates for excess salt through physical activity and water intake. In the evening, however, these mechanisms are weaker, which amplifies the negative effects.
Doctor’s advice
Cardiologists recommend monitoring salt intake at dinner and avoiding snacks, pickled foods, and processed products high in sodium.
Even a small change in this habit can help reduce the risk of hypertension, improve sleep quality, and ease the strain on the heart.
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This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
