Salt preprogrammed the brain and leads to hypertension

Doctors have repeatedly told us that eating too much salt increases the risk of high blood pressure for the rest of my life. However, only recently, scientists have finally found out why this is happening. According to experts, salt is able to literally "reprogram" the brain and prevents it from properly regulating blood pressure.

About their research, scientists from McGill University shared in the pages of the scientific journal Neuron. The article about the dangers of salt, it is reported that in a series of experiments on laboratory mice revealed that excessive consumption of this ingredient for cooking causes changes in the brain.

In the course of experiments, the researchers gave laboratory mice large amounts of salt and try to see how to change the behavior of mice with such kind of diet. In addition to severe thirst, which tested the mouse after a salty meal, it was noted that in the brains of mice, some changes in chemical reactions.

As explained on the pages of the scientific journal, increased salt intake mice was accompanied by the discontinuance of the section of the brain of rodents that are responsible for control blood pressure in the body, which is governed by special neurons.

Researchers suggest that mice consuming too much salt, increased content of the hormone vasopressin. This hormone is produced by neurons and is involved in maintaining the constancy of water-salt metabolism in the body and constricts blood vessels, impairing the flow of blood through the body and increasing blood pressure.

"We found that taking excessive amounts of salt causes biochemical changes in the neurons that secrete vasopressin into the circulatory system. These changes prevent the inhibition of certain neurons and other cells", — says head of research Charles Bork.Researchers believe that a similar reaction occurs with the human body. The further study of this problem will help to develop more effective ways to combat high blood pressure. More specifically, these studies can help in the development of drugs that can reduce the amount of release of vasopressin into the circulatory system of the body.

And yet these drugs do not become widely available, researchers are advised to reduce the daily amount of salt intake.

Source: hi-news.ru