It is well-known that MS is an inflammatory disorder involving the nervous system. The inflammation causes a break-down of the myelin (the insulation surrounding the long extensions of nerve cells). This myelin break-down leads to problems of fatigue, balance, walking, sleep, and memory, to name a few.
Inflammation is also a large part of the problem of “essential hypertension” (high blood pressure of unknown cause) also. It just so happens that certain cells of our immune system (the system that keeps us safe from bacteria, fungi, and viruses) cause inflammation in both MS and high blood pressure.
The culprit is salt—plain ole table salt. Using too much sodium (table salt) in our food causes these immune cells to become over-active. After becoming over-active, Inflammation is kicked up. This is not a good thing for MS recoverers.
So, go easy with that salt shaker for about six months and see if you start to feel better. I have listed below a few scientific references.
To Your Better Health,
Dr. Rudy Cartwright
MS Health Coach
PS: Let me hear from you. Post a comment
-Autoimmun Rev. 2007 Jan;6(3):169-75.
Autoimmune inflammation from the Th17 perspective.
Furuzawa-Carballeda J, et al
2. J Nephrol. 2011 Jan-Feb;24(1):23-34.
Inflammation in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension.
Montecucco F, et al.
3. Allergol Int. 2008 Jun;57(2):115-20.
Th17 Cells and autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE/MS).
Aranami T, Yamamura T.
4. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2012 Dec;27 Suppl 4:iv2-5.
The role of T cells in the pathogenesis of primary hypertension.
Quiroz Y, Johnson RJ, Rodríguez-Iturbe B.
5. Nature. 2013 Mar 6. doi: 10.1038/nature11984.
Induction of pathogenic TH17 cells by inducible salt-sensing kinase SGK1.
Wu C, et al
6. J Am Coll Nutr. 2006 Jun;25(3 Suppl):247S-255S.
Salt sensitivity, a determinant of blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and survival.
Franco V, Oparil S.
7. J Nephrol. 2002 Jan-Feb;15(1):1-6.
Salt intake and hypertension therapy.
Milan A, Mulatero P, Rabbia F, Veglio F.
8. Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2010 Jul;8(4):509-16.
Inflammatory markers in essential hypertension: potential clinical implications.
Stefanadi E, et al
9. Nature. 2013 Mar 6. doi: 10.1038/nature11868.
Sodium chloride drives autoimmune disease by the induction of pathogenic TH17 cells.
Kleinewietfeld M, et al
10. Neurotherapeutics 2013 Jan;10(1):111-23. doi: 10.1007/s13311-012-0155-4.