what does sodium do to a person's body?

Question

what "roll" does it play in your body?
(for those of you who dont know sodium is another word for salt)

Answer 1

Sodium can cause the body to retain water.If your kidneys can't eliminate enough sodium, the sodium starts to accumulate in your blood. Because sodium attracts and holds water, your blood volume increases. Increased blood volume, in turn, makes your heart work harder to move more blood through your blood vessels, increasing pressure in your arteries. Certain diseases such as congestive heart failure, cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease can lead to an inability to regulate sodium.

Your body needs some sodium to function properly.
It helps maintain the right balance of fluids in your body
Assists in transmission of nerve impulses
It influences the contraction and relaxation of muscles

Answer 2

No, sodium chloride is another word for table salt.
There are many sodium combinations including bicarbonate of soda, or baking soda.
Like anything esle it is needed by bodies to live, but too much makes thing go erratic.
For more specific info go to wikipedia.com

Answer 3

It's role is to allow you to hold on to water.

In some circumstances, this is bad...as other answerers have noted, this can lead to bloating, etc.

In some circumstances, this is good...If you're hiking in the jungle, for example, you're going to sweat quite a bit. Taking salt tablets can help you keep from becoming dehydrated.

Answer 4

Makes you bloated. Period. When you eat chinese food (which is packed with sodium) do you ever noticed how bloated you are afterwards?? Also too much sodium intake is not good for your body.

Answer 5

It makes the body retain water and can also raise the blood pressure.

Answer 6

click here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium#Physiology_and_sodium_ions
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4708
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2114