Salt may cause health problems not necessarily related to high blood pressure. A high salt diet impairs lung function and worsens asthma symptoms. Salt increases the body's excretion of calcium. Because it increases calcium excretion, salt may promote the formation of kidney stones. A high sodium diet appears to cause higher rates of infection with Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium that causes stomach ulcers. Having diabetes puts you at greater risk for high blood pressure. High levels of sodium in your diet can further increase that risk. Recommendation from the American Diabetes Association: "Hold The Salt." Dietary salt restriction seems to affect the fluid in the inner ear and helps alleviate the symptoms of Meniere's disease (vertigo and tinnitus) in many patients.