Q: Does salt that is placed on streets to get rid of ice have any affect on peoples blood pressure? My blood pressure seems to go up during winter months. I thought that maybe the maybe salt spray inhaled could affect those that inhale it?
A: The membranes inside the nose prevent most inhaled matter from getting into the body. Even if enough salt melted and got tossed into the air for you to breathe your nose would protect you. This is why salt solutions are safely used to irrigate the nose to treat colds and sinus infections. Most people exercise less in the winter and eat more to stay warm. This likely is the cause of seasonal blood pressure elevation.
Further Reading:
High Blood Pressure Climbs in Winter – WebMD.com
Seasonal Differences In Blood Pressure Discovered – ScienceDaily.com
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The salt that is put on the roads can end up getting into the water supply, increasing the sodium content of drinking water. This was a problem in my area last winter when some of the water companies recommended that salt-sensitive people use bottled water for drinking. I have not read about this issue this winter so perhaps the water companies are now filtering out the excess sodium.
Doesn’t exposure to cold cause your blood vessels to constrict, and a rise in bp would be the result?
Hi Mark. That’s exactly what I have been told. I find my pressure goes up even if the house is cold and I don’t have enough layers on. I make it a habit to dress warmer than necessary since I’m always cold.