Salt & water targets
Rough daily sodium and fluid targets used in POTS management, with the caveats your specialist will add.
Reviewed 2026-05-15
Where the numbers come from
The standard non-pharmacological approach to POTS includes increasing dietary sodium and fluid intake to expand plasma volume. The ranges quoted in patient guidance broadly cluster around:
- Sodium: 3-10 g per day. The top end is reserved for patients whose specialist has explicitly recommended "salt loading" — it is not a default.
- Fluid: 2-3 litres per day, spread across the day rather than slammed in one go.
Important caveats
- High sodium intake is unsafe for people with hypertension, heart failure, kidney disease, and several other conditions. Do not start salt loading on your own.
- Hyponatraemia from excessive plain-water intake is also a real risk. Adding electrolytes — including sodium — to fluids is the usual approach.
- Your specialist may individualise the target based on your weight, BP, comorbidities, and how you respond.