How much salt should a person with POTS have a day?

October 26, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Cleveland Clinic, a healthy person should consume less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day, but for many with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), those guidelines are flipped completely on their head. Individuals with POTS often require a significantly higher intake of salt and fluids to manage their symptoms, and knowing the right amount is crucial for daily well-being.

Quick Summary

Higher daily salt intake is often recommended for individuals with POTS to help manage symptoms. It increases blood volume, which can alleviate dizziness, fatigue, and rapid heart rate upon standing. Recommendations typically range from 3,000 to 10,000 mg of sodium per day, but individual needs vary and require medical supervision.

Key Points

Daily Sodium Target: Many POTS patients are advised to consume between 3,000 and 10,000 mg of sodium daily to help manage symptoms.
Blood Volume Expansion: Increasing salt intake helps the body retain more fluid, which elevates blood volume and helps counter orthostatic symptoms.
Stay Hydrated: Salt must be paired with a high fluid intake (2-3 liters per day) to be effective and prevent dehydration.
Sources of Salt: Options include generously salting food, consuming salty snacks, using electrolyte drinks, or taking salt tablets under medical supervision.
Medical Consultation: Always consult with a doctor before significantly increasing salt intake, especially if you have other health conditions like hypertension or kidney issues.
Individualized Approach: The optimal amount of salt varies from person to person; finding your 'sweet spot' requires careful monitoring and communication with your healthcare provider.

Why is a higher salt intake necessary for many with POTS?

For many people with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), low blood volume is a significant contributor to their symptoms, which include dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when moving from a lying or sitting position to a standing one. When a person stands, gravity naturally pulls blood downward, away from the heart and brain. In a healthy person, the body's autonomic nervous system compensates for this shift by constricting blood vessels and increasing heart rate only slightly. In many POTS patients, this mechanism is faulty, leading to blood pooling in the lower extremities.

Increasing salt intake helps the body retain more fluid, which in turn boosts blood volume. This expanded blood volume makes it easier for the heart to pump blood to the brain and reduces the severity of orthostatic symptoms. A higher salt intake can lead to a more stable heart rate and blood pressure when standing, improving overall quality of life for many patients.

Typical daily salt recommendations for POTS

While the exact amount of salt needed is highly individual and depends on several factors, consensus guidelines and clinical reviews often recommend a significantly higher intake than for the general population. The following are common guidelines that should be discussed with a healthcare provider:

Range of intake: Many experts suggest a daily intake of 3,000 to 10,000 mg of sodium. This is equivalent to approximately 7.5 to 25 grams of table salt, given that one gram of table salt contains about 393 mg of sodium.
Fluid intake: Higher salt intake must be accompanied by increased fluid consumption to be effective. Recommendations often include drinking 2 to 3 liters of water or other hydrating fluids per day.
Subtype considerations: Patients with the hyperadrenergic subtype of POTS, which involves elevated blood pressure, may need to approach salt loading with more caution and under strict medical supervision.

Comparison of Sodium Sources for POTS Management


Source	Pros	Cons	Notes
Dietary Salt	Widely available, easy to incorporate into cooking, affordable.	Tracking exact intake can be difficult, requires mindful salting of meals.	Useful for consistent, daily intake. Seasoning food and eating salty snacks are simple methods.
Salt Tablets	Provides a precise, measurable dose of sodium. Convenient for supplementing intake.	Can cause stomach upset or cramps in some individuals. Prescription options may be available.	Should always be taken with plenty of water to prevent digestive issues.
Electrolyte Drinks	Contains sodium along with other important electrolytes like potassium. Flavored options are more palatable.	Can be expensive, some products contain high amounts of sugar or artificial sweeteners that can worsen symptoms for some.	Check labels carefully for sugar and additive content. Look for medical-grade oral rehydration salts.
Salty Snacks	Convenient for on-the-go boosting of sodium.	Often high in saturated fat and calories, may not be the most nutritious option.	Options like salted nuts, pretzels, or broth can be helpful but should be part of a balanced diet.

Practical tips for increasing daily salt intake

Incorporating more salt and fluids into your daily routine is not always straightforward. Here are some practical ways to achieve your daily target:

Start the day salty: Drink a large glass of an electrolyte-rich beverage or water with a pinch of salt upon waking. This can help prevent morning dizziness.
Enhance your meals: Use salt more liberally in cooking and at the table. Adding soy sauce to meals or using stock cubes for soups are good ways to increase intake.
Keep salty snacks handy: Carry pretzels, salted nuts, or pickles with you to snack on throughout the day, especially before physical activity.
Consider electrolyte supplements: For consistent dosing and to avoid stomach upset, look into electrolyte capsules or tablets. Brands like Vitassium or products like LMNT are often discussed in the POTS community.
Make your own oral rehydration solution: A simple and cost-effective solution is to mix a ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of baking soda in 1 liter of water. Adding a little fruit juice for flavor can also help with water absorption.

The importance of working with a medical professional

While increasing salt intake is a common and often effective strategy for managing POTS symptoms, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Several factors, such as blood pressure, kidney function, and other co-existing conditions, must be considered. A high salt diet is contraindicated for some individuals, and a healthcare provider's supervision is essential for tailoring a safe and effective treatment plan. Additionally, salt loading is typically used in conjunction with other management strategies, including increased fluid intake, regular exercise, and compression garments. It is important to find the right balance for your unique situation.

Conclusion: Finding your personalized salt target

For a person with POTS, determining how much salt should a person with POTS have a day is a personal journey guided by medical advice. With low blood volume being a key issue for many, increasing salt and fluid intake is a cornerstone of non-pharmacological treatment. While general guidelines suggest a range of 3,000 to 10,000 mg of sodium daily, the optimal amount depends on individual symptoms and overall health. By working closely with a healthcare provider and carefully monitoring how different salt levels affect you, you can find the right balance to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. This strategy, combined with consistent hydration and other lifestyle adjustments, empowers many with POTS to better navigate their daily lives.

Visit Dysautonomia International for more information on managing POTS symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many people with POTS have low blood volume (hypovolemia). Increasing salt intake helps the body retain more fluids, which expands blood volume and helps to alleviate symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and fainting that occur when standing up.

For most POTS patients, especially those without hypertension or kidney issues, a higher salt intake is safe and beneficial under a doctor's supervision. However, it is crucial to consult your healthcare provider to ensure it is appropriate for your specific condition.

Salt is the common term for sodium chloride. One gram of salt contains approximately 393 mg of sodium. Medical guidelines typically refer to sodium, while dietary recommendations might use grams of salt. Be sure to clarify with your doctor and check nutritional labels.

It can be challenging to meet a 3,000 to 10,000 mg sodium target solely from food. While salty foods like broth, pickles, and nuts help, many patients also rely on supplements like salt tablets, electrolyte drinks, or adding extra salt to their cooking.

If salt tablets cause stomach cramps or upset, ensure you are taking them with plenty of fluids. You could also try different forms of sodium supplementation, such as electrolyte powders mixed in water, or focusing more on dietary sources and salty snacks throughout the day.

Yes, absolutely. Increased salt intake is only effective for boosting blood volume if there are sufficient fluids to be retained. Most recommendations suggest consuming 2 to 3 liters of fluids daily alongside increased sodium.

Electrolyte sports drinks can be a convenient source of sodium, but many contain high amounts of sugar, which can sometimes worsen POTS symptoms. It is better to opt for low-sugar electrolyte supplements or make your own oral rehydration solution.

If you have the hyperadrenergic subtype of POTS, you may experience elevated blood pressure. You should approach increasing your salt intake with extreme caution and under strict medical supervision, as it could potentially exacerbate symptoms.