Craving salt can be a sign of a sodium deficiency or a medical condition, such as Addison’s disease. However, most people in the United States consume far too much salt in their diets, so salt cravings are usually not due to a lack of salt in the body. Other possible causes of salt cravings include dehydration, excessive sweating, stress, lack of sleep, premenstrual syndrome, boredom, and poor-quality sleep. Salt is necessary for many bodily functions, including controlling muscles and maintaining fluid balance, but too much salt can be unhealthy, even deadly. If you have chronic salt cravings, it is important to talk to your doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions that may require treatment.