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salt association |
| salt & health | ||||||
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blood pressure Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in your arteries. About ten to 20 per cent of the population suffers from high blood pressure, which increases your risk of developing narrowed arteries. This can lead to heart problems, kidney disease and strokes. The condition of high blood pressure – or hypertension – is often hereditary, but it can often be controlled through a variety of lifestyle changes. Eating a healthy diet, high in fruit and vegetables, taking regular exercise, and drinking alcohol moderately are all recommended by GPs. Although no definite link has been found between blood pressure and salt intake, most GPs recommend that hypertensive patients regulate their salt intake. As these individuals cannot excrete excess sodium, it is believed that the sodium attracts water and causes the blood volume to increase. Since more blood now has to pass through the narrower vessels, the blood pressure increases. For those who do not suffer from this condition, there is no conclusive evidence that cutting back on salt will help prevent development of high blood pressure. know your numbers Before making drastic dietary changes, we all need to make sure that we regularly have our blood pressure tested and know what the numbers mean. This can be arranged through your local doctor’s surgery. For more advice and information, visit the Blood Pressure Association website or go to Frequently asked questions
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