low blood sodium/salt - can this happen without excessive water?

[joko]

are there any diseases that can cause this? without drinking loads of water?

I have found that i am generally sluggish, tired, weak and just feel unwell quite a lot - but when i take bicarb or andrews salts or something, i feel much better and have a bit more energy.

is this because i have some kind of deficiency? ... or just that taking those things is like a stimulant?

there is nothng in them, to my knowlede, that should cause any kind of stimulation.

I never use salt... dont add it to anything - and i know most food already has some, i wonder if perhaps i am a bit low on it...

i was told years ago i seem to have generally quite low blood pressure... but not problem level.

does salt just raise it a bit to 'normal' levels?

cheers

[Euphemia]

Salt in the diet does help to raise it to normal levels. Try eating some salted potato crisps.

[ummmm]

I'm glad you asked this because I also I have found that i am generally sluggish, tired, weak and just feel unwell quite a lot.

What's your diet like?

[jomifl]

If you have 'leaky' kidneys you can lose salt, do you drink a lot of tea? it's diuretic effect won't help. Get a blood test and take it from there.

[boxtops]

Has this been diagnosed by your doctor, joko, or are you basing it on the fact that fizzy stuff restores your vigour?

[jomifl]

Don't take extra salt based on speculation when you can get a proper diagnosis.

[LazyGun]

what boxtops said.

I can imagine a placebo effect from taking an effervescent pick me up, but the symptoms you describe could be cause by a very wide range of causes, most of which would be far more likely than hyponatraemia.

If you do feel tired, sluggish etc all the time then a visit to your GP and the suite of basic blood tests would be recommended, I would have thought...

[joko]

i am veggie so i eat lots of veg, eggs and cheese.
i do eat cake etc too, but not to excess.

i dont drink much tea - maybe one cup a day, if that.

i have not been diagnosed with anything... i have just noticed that it seems to make me feel more 'normal'
i only take a normal dose, a spoonful in water.

i have had blood tests in the past and all have been clear... but i guess eating something with salt in prior could alter that kind of result.

[joko]

i have had tests... all clear

and i dont take the stuff to give me a pick me up - its not designed to do that - so no placebo effect - i have just noticed a difference when i do take it

[LazyGun]

I must be misunderstanding you Joko.I am still a bit confused though.

If you are not taking such drinks as a pick me up - which is what I understood you to mean by this phrase of yours -

- "I have found that i am generally sluggish, tired, weak and just feel unwell quite a lot - but when i take bicarb or andrews salts or something, i feel much better and have a bit more energy."

-what are you taking them for?

[RedGrant]

it's generally good to avoid adding salt but if your diet does not include sources of salt, eg processed food, meat etc then it is possible that you are salt deficient. Try taking some salt tablets as a supplement rather than adding it to food (or you'll get used to the taste, the main reason the cruet still exists at all!)

[joko]

thanks all.

andrews salts are not designed to be a pick me up - they are for relief from an upset stomach.

if they were designed to be a pick me up i wouldnt be asking the question as it would be obvious why i felt 'picked up'.
as i said, there is nothing in them, to my knowledge, that should act as a pick me up at all.

i take them, and have noticed as a side effect of this that not only to they settle my tum, they seem to give me energy and make me more alert.

[LazyGun]

@ Joko - My questions appear to be irritating you. I was trying to help, but I'll stop asking the questions.

[joko]

lazygun - ?

you are not irritating me at all!
I was just trying to explain what i meant in my OP and that the stuff is not meant be a pick me up and thats not why i was taking it

i am grateful for any help

[Sqad]

\\are there any diseases that can cause this? without drinking loads of water? \\


Yes.....2 spring immediately to mind particularly as you mention low BP.

Go to your GP, express your concerns and hope that he arranges a battery of tests to evaluate your thyroid and adrenal gland functions.

[slaney]

If you feel weak and unwell, best to see your GP for examination and tests to find out the cause.

[ummmm]

What's considered low BP again?

[slaney]

Sorry Sqad, you weren't there when I started...

[Sqad]

slaney....no problem.......we are both probably thinking along the same lines..;-)

[boxtops]

If you need a dose every day to settle your tummy, perhaps the reason for the dodgy/gassy tummy needs investigating first.

[joko]

thanks all

i dont take it everyday. though i do have IBS.

i have always felt generally 'off' really, i have some medical issues which probably contribute to that, but i wonder why salt seems to boost me.
i dont mean i am bouncing round the house full of energy...its just a small difference

i will mention those things to the doc though