Reducing sodium intake is essential for treating heart disease, yet most heart patients find it difficult to cut back on salt, according to a recent study.
According to study, persons with heart disease typically eat more than twice as much salt as is advised daily.
Although too much sodium can cause blood pressure, which destroys blood vessels and makes the heart work harder, it is necessary for human health.
Additionally, consuming too much salt makes the body retain fluid, which can make illnesses like heart failure worse.
According to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, those with heart disease should restrict their daily consumption of sodium to 1,500 milligrammes (mg) and even healthy individuals should limit their daily intake of salt to less than 2,300 mg.
However, nine out of ten (89%) of a sample of more than 3,100 cardiac patients claimed they consumed more than the daily maximum of 1,500 mg, according to the researchers.
In actuality, the researchers found that heart patients consumed an average of 3,096 mg of salt per day, which was only marginally less than the 3,400 mg per day national average previously published by the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Researchers examined dietary information from individuals with cardiac conditions who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2009 and 2018 in order to conduct this study.
According to researchers, heart patients may find it difficult to gauge how much salt is in takeaway or grocery items.
Researchers found no evidence of any appreciable variations in salt intake according to people’s wealth, gender, race, or level of education.
The research will be showcased on Sunday during the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in Atlanta. Results that are presented at medical conferences ought to be regarded as preliminary until they are published in a peer-reviewed publication.
Researchers found that cooking more meals at home, where they can better manage salt levels, can assist people of all backgrounds safeguard their heart health.
Additionally, people should limit their consumption of foods with sodium levels greater than 140 milligrammes and read food labels more carefully.
According to the World Health Organisation, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality (sickness and death) globally.