Increased dietary salt intake is not only associated with a significantly increased risk of high blood pressure and heart failure, but also significantly increases the overall risk of heart disease.
If you have heart disease, pay attention to a low-sodium diet
Although salt is essential for life, many people regularly consume too much salt, which is particularly dangerous in the case of heart disease, as those affected should actually eat a diet that is as low in sodium as possible.
However, at this year’s scientific meeting of the American College of Cardiology, researchers reported that a recent study showed that people with heart disease consume, on average, more than twice the recommended daily sodium intake.
High salt consumption puts a strain on the heart
Too much salt can increase blood pressure. This damages the blood vessels and makes the heart work even harder. Additionally, too much sodium can contribute to fluid buildup in the body, which has a negative impact on diseases such as heart failure, the team adds.
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture also points out in an article that too high a daily salt intake is a risk factor for high blood pressure and thus increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, especially a stroke.
Many people consume too much salt
In the current study, the researchers examined a sample of more than 3,100 participants who suffered from heart disease and determined their sodium intake using questionnaires in which the participants were asked about their diet in the last 24 hours.
It found that 89 percent of participants consumed more than 1,500 mg of salt (the maximum daily amount recommended by the American Heart Association for people with cardiovascular disease).
On average, the participants consumed more than double 1,500 mg of salt per day, only slightly below the national average of 3,400 mg/day, the researchers added.
This result shows how difficult it is for many people to adhere to the recommended amounts of sodium, even if they have cardiovascular disease and should actually maintain a low salt intake.
Consume less salt
Successfully reducing salt intake requires a fundamental change in the lifestyle of those affected, which experts say has been shown to be associated with a lower risk of subsequent major cardiovascular events.
However, it remains difficult to estimate the salt content of meals consumed. While labels can help determine the sodium content of packaged foods, general adherence to a low-sodium diet is challenging, researchers say.
In order to make it easier for the general population to reduce salt consumption, experts believe that more practical ways of estimating the sodium content of foods must be found.
On the other hand, reducing the sodium content in foods directly at the source could also be considered, adds study author Dr. Elsie Kodjoe added.
How can you eat less salt?
The doctor emphasizes that it is also possible to significantly reduce sodium intake through proactive measures. For example, it makes sense to prepare more meals at home because you have better control over the salt content.
In addition, you should pay attention to food labels in order to consume foods that contain no more than 140 mg of salt per serving, advises the expert.
Better education about the health benefits of limiting sodium in the diet could be improved, according to Dr. Kodjoe also help to increase motivation to comply with such recommendations.
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and following sodium intake recommendations is one of the simplest strategies to protect yourself from the negative effects of high salt consumption, particularly related to heart disease. circulatory diseases to protect.
The results of the study presented here are also confirmed by other research. For example, a study published this year in the English-language journal Frontiers in Nutrition concluded that higher sodium intake is associated with an increased risk of heart failure and high blood pressure.
In a study published in the English-language journal BMC Medicine, researchers report a significant positive association between daily sodium intake, the sodium-potassium ratio and the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.
Improve longevity through low salt intake
The team notes that the association between sodium-potassium ratio and mortality was stronger in women than in men, and concludes that it generally makes sense to reduce sodium intake and increase potassium intake. This benefits health and life expectancy. (as)
