Hypothyroidism and High Blood Pressure: Why Salt Restriction and Diuretics Can Be Deadly (Do This Instead)

So, I’ll come right out and say it…

If you’re trying to lower your blood pressure through salt restriction or diuretics, then you’re in for a big surprise.

When working with clients, I see both low and high blood pressure.

It’s all about how YOUR body compensates for YOUR hypothyroidism, which is different from one person to the next.

It’s one of the many things that make understanding hypothyroidism difficult for many.

It’s also one of the many reasons why treating high blood pressure the wrong way can be deadly.

Restricting salt and using diuretics won’t solve the underlying problem.

Both work to lower your blood pressure by removing water from your blood.

It’s simple physics…

Reduce your blood volume and the pressure decreases.

But, it’s like being trapped in a sinking boat and bailing water all day every day.

As long as you keep bailing water, you’ll keep your blood pressure lower and your boat afloat.

But it doesn’t do anything to fix the underlying problem.

Plus, salt restriction and diuretics come with some significant risks and can even be deadly.

The research on salt is quite conflicted.

Maintaining a low sodium diet has long been recommended for heart health, yet there is really no evidence supporting salt restriction.

In fact, some studies show that salt restriction increases your risk of early death.

The same goes for diuretics.

There are many studies showing that diuretics increase both hospitalizations and mortality for those with heart conditions.

Since when does it make sense to treat any condition in ways that are known to increase premature death?

The real underlying problem for most is a hormone called aldosterone, which is the hormone that regulates water balance in your body.

The Hypothyroidism – Aldosterone – High Blood Pressure Connection

Aldosterone is a hormone that is part of your renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

In short, the hormone aldosterone is responsible for regulating your sodium levels and blood pressure.

When elevated, aldosterone works to re-absorb and retain sodium while wasting potassium in the process.

This loss of potassium actually causes your arteries to constrict, increasing your blood pressure.

Elevated aldosterone also promotes both inflammation and edema (water retention), and suppresses your metabolism.

All of these further promote hypothyroidism.

To regulate both water balance and blood pressure, you must regulate aldosterone.

Aldosterone rises in response to many things including:

• • • Sodium Loss
    • Elevated Parathyroid Hormone (via low calcium)
    • Hypoglycemia
    • Estrogen Dominance
    • Elevated Serotonin
    • Bacterial Endotoxin

All of these are commonly found in hypothyroidism.

In hypothyroidism, sodium is lost rapidly and calcium is deficient.

Estrogen becomes dominant and commonly increases serotonin production.

Hypothyroid sufferers also have higher incidence of Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), leading to higher levels of bacterial endotoxin.

To top it all off, high levels of adrenaline or stress (also common in hypothyroidism) can increase blood pressure even further.

Needless to say, there are many factors in hypothyroidism that can make you prone to elevated blood pressure.

Restricting salt and using diuretics only causes your body to fight sodium deficiency even harder.

As a result, they contribute to the problem by forcing your aldosterone even higher.

Sure, your blood pressure may decrease a little, but you’re also inhibiting your thyroid at the same time.

Let’s look at some simple ways to help correct these underlying causes of your high blood pressure while supporting your thyroid in the process.

5 Safe Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure and Support Your Thyroid

1. Increase Your Calcium

Based on the research of Dr. David McCarron, it’s very clear that calcium (not sodium) has the largest influence on your blood pressure.

In his studies, Dr. McCarron showed that adequate calcium intake is the number one factor in preventing high blood pressure.

(He also showed that adequate sodium is also important.)

Blood pressure and nutrient intake in the United States. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6729459 “Across the population, higher intakes of calcium, potassium, and sodium were associated with lower mean systolic blood pressure and lower absolute risk of hypertension.”

2. Don’t Forget Potassium

Along with calcium, potassium also has a strong influence over blood pressure.

Remember, when aldosterone is high your body wastes potassium causing your arteries to constrict and your blood pressure to rise.

Getting more potassium from foods like orange juice can make a big difference.

(NOTE: Want a more advanced method to boost your thyroid using only 3 simple foods a day? Download our proven 3 Food Triple-Thyroid Boosting Protocol now and learn how to start every day right, feeling calm clear and full of energy.)

3. Thyroid Hormone (T3)

Dr. Broda Barnes showed through his research that using adequate thyroid hormone can relieve high blood pressure.

For starters, thyroid hormone helps to prevent sodium wasting and hypoglycemia.

Yet, it also has the ability to correct many of the hormonal imbalances associated with hypothyroidism such as helping to regulate estrogen, serotonin, and parathyroid hormone (PTH).

4. Restore Progesterone

Both estrogen and progesterone have direct effects on blood pressure.

Estrogen decreases the smooth muscle contractions of the veins, causing them to lose their tone and the valve to weaken. This leads to blood pooling within the veins, which eventually results in the development of varicose veins.

Progesterone helps to restore the smooth muscle contractions of the veins, which in turn can help to normalize blood pressure. 

Multiple studies have observed the blood pressure lowering effects of natural progesterone while also demonstrating that progesterone deficiency (in both men and women) is associated with elevated blood pressure.

Estrogen and progesterone also play a role in regulating mineral (sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium) balance in your body, which directly affects blood pressure.

Simply put, both hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s are commonly associated with progesterone deficiency, which is a common cause of high blood pressure.

5. Bag Breathing

Most of us live with a lot of stress.

Remember, stress will increase your blood pressure.

As adrenaline rises, your blood pressure rises with it.

A simple way to help reduce your blood pressure (albeit over the short term) is to practice some bag breathing.

Simply breathe in and out through your nose into a paper bag, for 2 to 3 minutes, 2 to 3 times daily.

Don’t force it, and take a break between periods of breathing if needed.

After practicing this for a week you should start to see a difference in your blood pressure.

You should also feel calmer and less stressed.

Bag breathing is a great way to lower adrenaline and help support a healthy metabolism and blood pressure.

While bag breathing does help, getting your minerals in balance is essential for permanently correcting your blood pressure.

This means no more restricting sodium.

That just elevates your aldosterone even more.

Instead, increase your calcium, potassium, and even magnesium… and be sure to get adequate sodium too.

(NOTE: Want a more advanced method to boost your thyroid using only 3 simple foods a day?

Download our proven 3 Food Triple-Thyroid Boosting Protocol now and learn how to start every day right, feeling calm clear and full of energy.)