The high level of salt intake by Americans is increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes and blood pressures among the citizens, according to a report from Science Daily.
Americans suffer from a high incidence of heart attacks, strokes and blood pressure. A study has found that the high level of sodium intake by Americans is a major cause in developing such diseases.
Theodore A. Kotchen, MD, professor of medicine (endocrinology), and associate dean for clinical research at the Medical College of Wisconsin, was the lead author of the study that found a correlation between blood pressure and salt intake. He also urged people who have been diagnosed with hypertension to reduce their intake of salt.
He found a link between levels of sodium intake and blood pressure in non-hypertensive individuals but the link was not very clear. Previous studies have also noted the benefits of reduction in salt intake, which can be very useful in lowering the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and decreased rate of deaths.
Several programs initiated to reduce the salt intake among general population have shown reduction in death percentage due to stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. Such an initiative started in Finland and Great Britain had a positive impact resulting in 75 to 80 percent of reduced death percentage due to stroke and coronary heart diseases, says the report.
"Salt is essential for life, but it has been difficult to distinguish salt need from salt preference," said Dr. Kotchen. "Given the medical evidence, it seems that recommendations for reducing levels of salt consumption in the general population would be justifiable at this time." Doctors have said that a specific lower limit of salt consumption that is considered safe cannot be stated clearly but in certain groups of patients, it is necessary for their doctors to set an exact target for salt reduction.
