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"When salt tablets hit your stomach, a reaction begins that pulls water from surrounding tissues into your stomach to dilute the salt concentration, causing possible dehydration and collapse." "Extra salt increases urination which means a fluid loss that could lead to heat exhaustion or stroke. That fluid loss also washes out potassium and low potassium level leads to fatigue." Phil Tompkins Sodium is a normal body electrolyte that is *decreased* by excessive fluid intake. Contrary to what you have written here, sodium helps to *retain* fluid - hence the understanding that too much salt increases blood pressure by increasing fluid volume. There is a myth in America that the use of salt is bad. For a certain portion of the population that may be true, but there are now a number of patients in the care of the medical community who have exceptionally low BPs, feel tired as a consequence and have difficulty completing ordinary tasks. This population has had a decreased salt intake as a matter of dietary practice. Some physicians are now suggesting that these individuals increase their daily salt intake. It is not unusual for me to administer salt tablets to a number of my patients, per doctor's orders, in an effort to correct sodium and chloride electrolytes deficiencies. This is probably a good time to remind list participants that the *excessive* intake of water can actually be dangerous. In addition to depleting electrolytes, increased water intake can dilute medications. As a Urologist (who had to correct a severe electrolyte deficiency in an older woman whose children insisted that she drink 8 glasses of water a day) told me, "People should only drink when they're thirsty - the body recognizes when it needs water - too much water is far more dangerous than too little.." Please be aware that we were discussing people with relatively normal nutritional and metabolic needs. So....drink when you're thirsty - and consider increasing fluid intake in the summer when the weather is hot. But, beware of drinking large quantitiies of water when your body doesn't need them. ----- Regards Mary Ann Ryan RN, BSN