Does the body lose the ability to break down salt as it gets older?

[RATTER15]

I find that as im getting older (now54) I find if I eat anything that has a high salt content like takeaway food, kebabs Etc, or if I eat bacon or ham in the evenings im waking up regularly through the night drinking to quench my thirst.

Maybe something else going on here?

Im not having any medical problems, im more curious than anything.

[Old_Geezer]

You're probably not drinking enough beer with your supper.

[Sqad]

It is not a matter of salt breakdown, at any age, but that salt changes the osmolarity of the blood, pulling in fluid from the cells and causing one to want to pass water ( a sort of forced diuresis)
It is a little more complicated than this, but that is the bottom line. One eats food with a high salt content and or adds salt, then you pass more water for the reason given.

There are medical conditions which secrete salt, but these are extremely uncommon and endocrine in nature.

Age has little to do with this.

[rowanwitch]

Only as your taste buds become less sensitive with time it may be you enjoy and therefore eat slightly saltier foods

[RATTER15]

The thing is I dont pass any more water than usual accept if I drink a lot of water, I may wake 4 times during the night to drink but will rarely need to get up to wee. this is only been happening in the last year or two, my diet hasn't really changed in that time, im certainly not eating any saltier foods than in the past.

[LazyGun]

I dont think the biochemistry of how salt is utilised within the body change with age Ratter, although age might affect the impact salt has on things like hypertension, for example. Advanced age might also affect certain organs, such as kidneys, etc, which are important in salt regulation within the body, as can infection.

More likely that you are not taking in the right daily intake, during the day, of fluid. Or that these events are linked to a higher than usual alcohol intake, which might cause open mouthed snoring and hence dry out the mouth :)

Save yourself the walk and keep a glass of water at the bedside - and have a glass before going to sleep........

[RATTER15]

Lazygun, I do snore a lot actually and suffer from sleep apnoea, I keep a large bottle of water next to my bed, a glass would never be enough, I would need at least 3 glasses lol. Its a good job I have an excellent bladder and still in full control of it :)