Although salt comprises of sodium and chloride, it is sodium that has an effect on hypertension. Sodium regulates the equilibrium condition of the fluids in our body, such as extracellular fluids. Deficiency in the level of sodium in our body gives rise to a deficiency in the level of water.

Thus we can also say that an excess of sodium in blood can only be balanced by an abundance of water in the blood. Unless the person has suddenly increased their level of water intake, the heart is pumping harder and more frequently to supply this blood. This causes a dilation of the blood vessels which generates higher risk for cases like strokes and heart attacks. It can even cause kidney failure because of the amount of extra work the kidney has to do to remove that salt.

Around a third to half of the people who are hypertensive are called salt-sensitive, because of the malfunction salt can cause in their bodies. They can rectify this by taking several precautions to regulate their salt intake. These include eating less of processed foods and stop keeping a salt shaker on the table. Another more difficult method is to try to keep a balance between the sodium and potassium levels in the blood.