(What's The) Amount of Salt lost in sweat

[65rosessamurai]

It was unbeleivable, but the wife was upset with me today (argument) about how much salt I had taken in during lunch.
It has been about 90 degree weather these past few weeks, and I'm always changing clothes because they are drenched with sweat, and I also suck down as many fluids and salts that I can when I lose so much sweat. This is when I can't turn on the AC, or working hard even with the AC on.
However, contradictory to what I had been told from my CF doctors in the past, the wife tells me I take in too much salt, and should be taking in more minerals and water. I told her that in this hot weather, I lose so much salt that it will actually crystallize on me when I finally cool off, therefore I have to take in more salt than the average person in this weather.
She insists that by me taking too much salt, my arteries will harden, the blood won't flow like it should, and I'm sure to have high blood pressure (which I currently don't). Not to mention, not being able to balance myself with minerals and water, etc.
She told me to ask other CF'rs on this forum about what the doctors told them regarding salt intake (as if she was indicating that I've been misinformed the past 32 years), and while I'm at it, I want to ask what everyone else who's stuck in a "furnace-like city" does to balance their salts and liquids to avoid dehydration. Also, how does everyone feel if they take in liquids, but don't add enough salt to it? I personally feel the need to take salt straight, if I can't get enough when I'm trying to rehydrate myself with water.
I had told her that I don't believe she has read up enough about CF, and seemingly doesn't believe something I tell her, despite it being something I've practiced for years.
I actually looked at the CF Wikipedia, to which never made an indication about how much salt is lost, nor even what range of salt is considered 'CF' for the sweat test. I found from the CF Wikipedia link for "Sweat Glands" that the average person will lose 35 to 65 mmol/l of sodium in their sweat. Never could understand the mole measurement, but to compare the average person's range to a CF'r's range, would be an easy comparison to understand.
Any and all help would be greatly appreciated (So I can go on to eating my pretzels and salt my food to my needs!)

 

[thelizardqueen]

You can never take in too much salt in my opinion. CFers lose so much of it to begin with, that we need to get as much of it into our bodies that we can. I'm not too sure on the percentages though.

 

[Allie]

Well, a normal person's value is 40 milliequivalents per liter of sodium to sweat. A CFer's is at least 60 to be considered postive on the test, but can be much higher (Ry's was 100+) hope that helped.

 

[Lilith]

I don't know much about the science behind it, but I agree with
Liz.  For CFers, salt is a necessity.  I take in as much
as I can, and sometimes after eating, I'll open up one of those
little salt packets (from McDonalds or something) and down that for
good measure.  I never worry about too much.

 

[mousesmom]

Our docs tell us that although CFrs don't perspire more they lose about 5 x the amount of salt. They also say a CFr can never have too much salt. Monique finds that when the temp gets to around 35 C and above that she needs extra salt + water otherwise she becomes dizzy. Though with her salt is never a problem she adds it to everything even sweet stuff yuk!

 

[Momtana]

My doctor just told me (at my August appt) that people with CF rarely have heart disease.

 

[IG]

Now i'm not sure that CFers vitally need salt. I was told when I was little that taking salt to replace all that I was losing was a smart idea. After taking a bio class or two I really can't see how the additional salt would help the transport system any but you are losing salt, when you sweat and such, which is something your body needs, so I guess trying to replace it is a good idea. I'd get more technical than this slap and dash explaination (mostly copied from other places) but I'm packing up and leaving for Texas today (in about 2 hours actually).

'Sodium is the most common ion in the extracellular space and the combination of sodium and chloride creates the salt which is lost in high amounts in the sweat of individuals with CF. This lost salt forms the basis for the sweat test.' So basically you can tell your wife that you do sweat out more salt than the normal person, since not everybody can have a sweat test.

Operation of the CFTR channel
Stage 1 The channel is closed
Stage 2 Phosphate groups (P) add to the R-domain. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) stimulates the enzyme, protein kinase (PKA), to add the phosphate groups.
Stage 3 ATP is bound . . .
Stage 4 . . . and hydrolysed to ADP+Pi
Stage 5 The shape of CFTR changes, opening the Cl- channel.

In cystic fibrosis, the flow of chloride ions and of sodium ions (Na+) is fundamentally altered.
Basically genetically we're screwed over. =]

More complicated version:
The CFTR is found in the epithelial cells of many organs including the lung, liver, pancreas, digestive tract, reproductive tract, and skin. <i>Normally</i>, the protein moves chloride ions (with a negative charge) out of an epithelial cell to the covering mucus. This results in an electrical gradient being formed and in the movement of (positively charged) sodium ions in the opposite direction. (human: Salt is not transported correctly in CFers and builds up on the wrong side of the transport) Due to this movement, the water potential of the mucus is reduced, resulting in the movement of water here by osmosis and a more fluid mucus.

CF arises from the blockage of the movement of ions and, therefore, water into and out of cells. In people with mutations giving rise to cystic fibrosis, the blockage in ion transport occurs in epithelial cells that line the passageways of the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. This leads to chronic dysfunction, disability, and a reduced life expectancy.

 

[coltsfan715]

I think everyone pretty much answered your questio about how much salt you lose in your sweat and whether they take in extra salt and such.
I just wanted to add that I have found Gatorade really helps me alot when I am out in the heat all day. I am not sure if it has salt or not, but it is more than just plain old water to keep me hydrated.

Also I eat pretzels - those little stick ones alot during the summer. They are a great snack.

Lindsey

 

[lightNlife]

Years ago my doctor recommended that I keep a salt shaker with me
so I can add salt to just about everything. She also recommended
that I drink salted water during hot summer months to replace what
I lose.<br>
<br>
I have found that eating plenty of pretzels keeps me feeling really
well for a lot of reasons. 1) they've got salt 2) they are a
carbohydrate so they give me energy 3) they are fat free so they're
easy to digest 4) the salt stimulates my thirst, so I end up
drinking plenty of water too<br>
<br>
People at work call me the pretzel woman. I go through a 1lb bag of
pretzels every 2 days or so. I'm constantly snacking on them.<br>
<br>
As far as my doctors are concerned, I can't have too much salt. In
this world where Atkins diets, South Beach Diets and
"Supersize Me" documentaries run rampant, I have a
feeling that the population at large is misinformed about nutrition
on general. CFers play by very different rules when it comes to
nutrition.<br>
<br>
<br>

 

[thelizardqueen]

You should try salt tablet then, if you're not taking in enough salt. I myself in hot weather drink plently of water and gatoraid. I also eat lots of salty food like pretzels, peanuts, chips and popcorn. I will on the occasion take salt straight. My doc told me that if you don't like the taste of straight salt - to take a table spoon of koolaid, and mix the salt in there and drink it down.

 

[julie]

Quite a few doctors have told Mark and I, "you, Mark, can never have TOO much salt". And on really hot and sweaty days, it's advisable to not only drink water, but to also drink something like gatorade that will help replace the excessive salt and electrolytes that CFers sweat away.

 

[PLUCKY]

Agreed with others, Can never have to much salt. I crave it when it gets hot outside. But then again when I sweat I have salt beads that build up massively behind my ears
I mean enough salt to that It almost like crystalizes itself.

I crave salt and I believe it is for that reason.

Skye

(the good part is no one else will touch my french fries because they think that much salt is gross)

 

[Emily65Roses]

I salt just about everything that's salt-able. I even salt things that other people never would, like cheese pizza. Yummm. I was always told to just salt anything I wanted, as much as I wanted. We lose a whole lot. Like Allie said, borderline for CF is 40-60, and 60+ is CF. Like Ry, my sweat test number was more than 100. Mine was 106, to be exact. So I know I certainly lose quite a bit. Hahaha. I don't think you can have too much salt unless you're chewing salt rocks the size of small planets every day.

I say salt whatever you want, or eat whatever salty snacks you want... especially while your blood pressure and all that is perfectly fine.

 

[Ender]

You think having low salt levels affects blood pressure? I dunno, I never really gave salt much thought. I mean, i know we lose more, but i would never contribute that to me feeling more good or bad. Anyone thinks salt makes a difference in how they feel?

 

[onlyoneloveinmylife]

i find gatorade and tons of chips help alot during the summer. when
i used to play softball i would sweat so much that i had salt on
the outside of my cleats and glove, and gatorade and chips worked
the best and the fastest for me.<br>
<br>
we can never have too much salt. cause we never have enough.

 

[onlyoneloveinmylife]

thats the one perk with CF, the best diet there is.<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"> 

 

[anonymous]

yes too much salt can raise your blood pressure but if you are losing salt at a very high rate then your blood pressure should stabilise, even when my son he has white trails down his skin, so if this happens it means you need to take in more salt, and if you sweat alot you need salt ifv you dont then you dehydrate and then this can cause your core to dry up and this can be painful so keep on drinking those sports drinks they are high in sodium

 

[JazzysMom]

I have known CFers that had to take salt tablets because they couldnt/wouldnt get enough salt in their diet. That alone tells me that the CF body handles salt differently without getting into all the technical stuff that can cause high blood pressure, heart disease etc. Sorry Yuka is off on this one!

 

[Alyssa]

Our CF doctor and nutritionist both have said <b>"eat as much salt and salty snacks as you want"</b>

I think it is pretty much a standard CF rule -- don't get dehydrated and up your intake of salt on hot days -- I have also heard of people taking salt pills to replace the loss of salt in their bodies.

If you feel you should have more salt, by all means please eat it up! I'm sure your body needs it.

 

[thefrogprincess]

Bottom line: if you are craving salty foods then you need salt! Since our cells don't retain enough salt it would be really hard for us to get too much, unless you like eating it by the spoonful.