P.er to counteract the damage caused by high blood pressure (hypertension), a condition particularly frequent in menopausal women, it is necessary to seek the advice of a cardiologist. Once the clinical examinations have been checked, the specialist usually decides whether to prescribe medications or to recommend a change in diet and lifestyle. But a recent study conducted in China by a group of researchers from the Queen Mary University of London it emerges that even a small reduction in salt intake can help prevent heart disease and stroke potentially fatal. The results were published in the journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health.
Hypertension and salt: habits to change
In Italy, the daily consumption of salt is almost double that recommended from the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology. It is estimated that on average they take 9.5 grams per day compared to the recommended 5 grams. “Even a single gram of salt less per day is enough, compared to about 10 grams consumed on average by Italians, to reap great benefits and safeguard heart health”, he explains. Ciro Indolfi, president of the Italian Society of Cardiology (SIC)in his opening speech at the congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)ongoing in Barcelona until 29 August.
“The salt it is an important part of our diet. This mineral occurs naturally in some foods and in large quantities in processed foods. His hiring is important for many reasons, including the fact that helps balance fluid levels in the body. But the body requires just a small amount of sodium to conduct nerve impulses, contract and relax muscles and maintain the correct balance of water and minerals. L’excessive consumption of saltin general, it is associated withhypertension and to the increase of the factors of cardiovascular risk which in turn lead to atherosclerosisheart disease and stroke“, clarifies Indolfi.
Too much salt in Chinese customs
As Professor Indolfi explains, “Chinese citizens consume about 11 grams of salt per day, while in Italy the average consumption is estimated at 9.5 grams in men and 7.2 grams in women. The maximum recommended intake by the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology is 5 grams per day, the equivalent of a teaspoon of salt ».
What the new study says
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have confirmed that reducing salt intake by just one gram per day can lower systolic blood pressure levels by an average of about 1.2 mmHg. If the habit is kept up, about 9 million strokes and heart attacks could be avoided in China by 2030, 4 million of which would be fatal. Continuing until 2040, then, there would be 13 million cases of heart attack and stroke that could be avoided.
Fight against hypertension: estimates for the next few years
They also calculated that if the WHO goal of lower salt consumption by 3.2 grams per day by 2025, with this reduction, about 14 million cases of stroke and heart disease would be prevented. Finally, the experts took into consideration an even more ambitious scenario: a reduction in daily salt consumption by as much as 6 grams, which would lead to a decrease in mean systolic blood pressure of more than 7 mmHg. If this reduction were maintained until 2030 in China, they would be 17 million cases of heart disease and stroke prevented while related deaths avoided would be 8 million.
Hypertension: over 150,000 heart attacks per year in Italy
“Even in Italy a small reduction in salt would allow great benefits, taking into account that in our country heart disease continues to be the main cause of death with 240 thousand deaths every year”, says Indolfi. In details, every year in Italy they register approx 150 thousand heart attacks and over 1.5 million hospitalizations due to heart failure. Of the latter there are over 600 thousand diagnoses a year, but the number grows to 3 million considering the latent forms. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in Italy and patients can make up to 6-7 hospitalizations a year, often with long-term stays. Furthermore, mortality is very high, affecting approximately 50% of patients after 4-5 years. “For this reason, the evidence suggested by this study, if applied to real life, could prove to be decisive in terms of preventing cardiovascular events and avoidable deaths”, concludes Indolfi.
The 5 tips for reducing salt
1. Thoroughly rinse canned vegetables and prefer fresh fruits and vegetables
2. Gradually decrease the addition of salt
3. Use herbs, spices, garlic and lemon instead of salt
4. Put the salt and salty sauces away from the table
5. Check food labels before buying them to choose those with a lower salt content.
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