Cut Down on Salt to Avoid Heart Diseases and Stroke: Study

British researchers found that a 15 percent reduction in the salt consumption in England may have contributed to the 40 percent decline in death rates caused by heart problems and strokes in the last 10 years.

They studied data from a national health survey of 31,500 people that was conducted in 2003 in attempt to limit overall sodium intake. Experts also noted diet pattern and blood pressure levels of participants hailing from diverse backgrounds. They measured average salt intake by testing urine samples of 3,000 people that took part in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey between 2003 and 2011.

It was observed that a daily reduction of 1.4 gram of salt intake had brought down stroke deaths by 42 percent and coronary heart diseases by 40 percent in the entire country. The initiate to limit salt in food among patients with high blood pressure was followed by a healthy trend of increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. This led to a major decline in the risk factors of heart diseases like high blood, cholesterol and smoking in people despite the increase in the BMI levels.

 The authors said, "The reduction in salt intake is likely to be an important contributor to the falls in blood pressure in England from 2003 to 2011. As a result, the decrease in salt intake would have played an important role in the reduction in stroke and ischaemic heart disease mortality during this period," reports the MedicalXpress.

The study also noted that the average blood pressure fell by 2.7/1.1 mm Hg among healthy participants who did not take any medications, irrespective of their age, level of physical activities and other factors.

Unrestrained and unhealthy eating of high sodium diets and snacks increases blood pressure that damages and constricts heart arteries by leaving salt deposits leading to hypertension, severe chest pains , irregular heart beat and finally results in heart attack. High blood pressure can also harm vital organs, damage blood vessels and cause internal bleeding in the brain leading to mild cognitive impairment.

The researchers believe almost 60 percent of the adult population ignore the guidelines for daily intake of salt and eat more than 6 grams of salt every day. About 80 percent of their daily salt intake is from processed junk food.

They add, "Therefore, continuing and much greater efforts are needed to achieve further reductions insalt intake to prevent the maximum number of strokes and heart disease deaths," reports the Medical News Today.

More information is available online in the British Medical Journal.