Feeling tired in the middle of the afternoon is something many people experience. At about 3-4 pm, energy declines, concentration decreases, and a salty, starchy snack is often chosen to fight hunger.
However, turning salty snacks into daily habits can silently increase blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Easily makes you overeat
Salty snacks are often prepared to create a delicious feeling, strongly stimulating taste buds. Most salty snacks also contain many calories, easily leading to weight gain. Overweight and obesity are important risk factors contributing to high blood pressure.
Causing changes in blood vessel structure
Consuming too much salt for a long time can cause physical changes in blood vessel walls. Blood vessels become harder, less elastic and more difficult to expand.
When arteries lose their flexibility, blood pressure rises easily and the risk of plaque formation is also higher, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Increasing blood volume
The body has a mechanism to maintain fluid and blood pressure balance. However, when consuming too much sodium, the body will retain water to balance salt levels. This excess water increases blood volume, thereby increasing pressure on the arterial walls.
Prolonged high pressure can damage blood vessels and create conditions for cardiovascular disease to develop.
Disrupting the blood pressure regulation mechanism
In the arteries, there are pressure receptors that help detect blood pressure changes and send signals to the brain for adjustment. When blood pressure is regularly maintained at a high level due to eating too much salt, these receptors can reset to a higher level and become less sensitive.
As a result, the body reacts ineffectively to high blood pressure, causing blood vessels to constrict more and the kidneys to retain more fluid, causing blood pressure to continue to rise.
