Is There a Special Diet for Primary Pulmonary Hypertension?

Primary pulmonary hypertension is a condition in which the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery rises far above standard levels for no apparent reason. The cause of primary pulmonary hypertension is not always certain and often leaves doctors no choice but to attempt to treat the condition through trial and error. As a patient, this may leave you wondering what is safe to eat while treating your condition. Fortunately, it is generally accepted that a low salt diet is beneficial for those suffering from primary pulmonary hypertension.

Effects of Sodium on High Blood Pressure

• A low sodium diet can be effective in lowering blood pressure in general---and specifically with primary pulmonary hypertension---because lower sodium means lower amounts of excess fluids in the body that lead to higher blood pressure.

  When sodium reaches a disproportionate level in the body, the kidneys must work hard to process the salt. When the sodium intake exceeds what the body can remove, the salt builds up in the blood and around the cells, holding too much fluid (bloating the blood) and contributing to high blood pressure.

Tips for a Low Salt Diet

• Luckily for most Americans, because high salt in foods has become such a problem, there are many food companies creating alternatives to their top brands that contain far less salt. Almost every type of cracker, soup and juice contains a version with half or less salt than the original product.

  There are two important tips for cutting back on your salt intake. Immediately discontinue eating fast foods and processed foods, and do not sprinkle table salt on any of the foods you cook at home. Other tips include eating smaller amounts of ketchup and mustard, avoiding cured meats, avoiding steak or other sauces and avoiding salted nuts and peanut butter.

Low Salt Diet Substitute Tips

• While eating a low salt diet does not seem like a pleasant way to live, there are also alternatives for keeping your foods tasty and healthy at the same time. You can start by eating fresh vegetables and fruits as much as possible. Vegetables and low salt cheeses go well together, especially when spiced with various herbs.

  Consider spicing up your meals with lemon, a small amount of sugar, or onions, parsley, garlic, wine and any other type of spice on your spice rack. Vinegars are great ways to add flavor to a meal as a salt substitute.

  For snacks, try substituting a banana, banana bread and milk, cinnamon apples or any other sort of spiced fruit. You may even consider a low salt cracker and a low salt cheese or low fat pimento cheese as a nice dessert after dinner.

  Pay attention to the labels on the products you choose, and keep a daily log of your salt intake.