Who should not consume low-sodium salt?

Generally speaking, although low-sodium salt is suitable for people needing to control sodium intake, some individuals with specific health conditions should avoid it. These mainly include patients with kidney disease, individuals taking certain antihypertensive medications, people with hyperkalemia, patients with heart failure, and those experiencing severe diarrhea or vomiting. A detailed explanation is as follows:

1. Patients with kidney disease: The kidneys are vital organs for regulating potassium balance in the body. Patients with impaired kidney function, chronic nephritis, or kidney failure experience reduced capacity to excrete potassium. Low-sodium salt contains a higher level of potassium, and consuming it may lead to potassium accumulation in the body as it cannot be promptly excreted.

2. Individuals taking certain antihypertensive medications: Some blood pressure medications reduce potassium excretion. Consuming low-sodium salt alongside these medications could further elevate potassium levels in the body, potentially causing hyperkalemia. Such individuals should choose the type of salt under a doctor's guidance and avoid self-use of low-sodium salt to prevent health risks.

3. Patients with hyperkalemia: For individuals whose blood potassium levels already exceed the normal range, consuming low-sodium salt directly increases potassium intake, further raising serum potassium levels. This may affect heart function, causing symptoms such as bradycardia and arrhythmia, and in severe cases, may even endanger life.

4. Patients with heart failure: Heart failure can impair the heart's pumping function and may be accompanied by insufficient renal blood flow, leading to reduced potassium excretion capacity. Potassium from low-sodium salt can easily accumulate in the body, increasing the burden on the heart and kidneys, potentially triggering or worsening symptoms of heart failure, such as shortness of breath and leg swelling.

5. Individuals experiencing severe diarrhea or vomiting: Severe diarrhea or vomiting can cause dehydration and may be accompanied by electrolyte imbalance, during which the kidneys' ability to regulate potassium balance may be affected. Consuming low-sodium salt may lead to an imbalance between potassium intake and excretion, worsening the electrolyte disturbance and affecting normal physiological functions.

When choosing types of salt in daily life, individuals should consider their own health status. Those with underlying medical conditions should consult a doctor before changing their salt type to avoid health risks and ensure dietary safety. Even healthy individuals should control total salt intake to maintain normal electrolyte balance in the body.