What it means
A diet that keeps sodium intake low, often to 2,000 mg a day or less (the American Heart Association's ideal is 1,500 mg). Less sodium means the body holds less water, which helps control blood pressure and fluid buildup. It is ordered for high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney disease and liver disease with fluid in the abdomen.
For the nurse
Teach the client to read food labels and to limit processed foods: canned soups, deli and cured meats, frozen meals, pickles, chips and fast food. Salt substitutes often contain potassium, so the client should ask the provider first, especially if taking a potassium-sparing diuretic or an ACE inhibitor.
At a glance
| Spanish | dieta baja en sodio |
|---|---|
| Also written | low-sodium diets, low sodium diet, sodium restriction, sodium restrictions, sodium-restricted diet |
Related terms
edema
Swelling caused by extra fluid trapped in the body's tissues.
hypertension
Blood pressure that stays higher than normal, at or above 130/80 mm Hg by current US guidelines.
heart failure
A long-term condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
sodium
A mineral in the blood that controls how water moves in the body and helps nerves and muscles work.