Reducing salt intake 'could prevent thousands of deaths'
Many people do not think twice before piling salt onto their evening meal, but those who do so may be placing themselves at an increased risk of developing heart disease, according to a new study.
A report published by the Euroepan Society of Cardiology has shown that there is a direct link between salt intake and the single biggest killer in the world.
The study was led by Professor Frank Ruschitzka, a cardiologist and hypertension specialist from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, who has recommended that lowering salt intake could have a significant impact on reducing illness and deaths caused by heart disease.
"This study provides excellent ammunition both to convince patients about the benefits of reducing their individual salt intakes and also to persuade the European Union of the urgent need to introduce legislation to restrict the salt content of processed foods," he said.
A computer simulation, conducted at the University of California, aimed to determine the effect that lowering salt intake would have on the health of the world.
It concluded that reducing dietary salt intake by three grams per day could result in 60,000 to 120,000 fewer cases of heart disease , 32,000 to 66,000 less strokes and 54,000 to 100,000 fewer heart attacks in the US alone.
Professor Ruschitzka said the findings illustrate how important it is to follow a healthy diet and noted that monitoring salt consumption is just one thing which people need to consider.
"It's important to appreciate that not all cardiovascular problems relating to salt are through hypertension. Salt can have an adverse effect on cardiovascular health, even among people with normal blood pressure," he said.
Posted by James McCann
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