Excessive salt intake causes heart disease, high blood pressure: experts

Heath experts on Wednesday at a workshop said excessive consumption of salt is responsible for non-communicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular, high blood pressure and stroke.

They suggested avoiding salt intake as consumption of salt with food directly causes heart diseases, hypertension and other chronic diseases, reports BSS.

The health experts made the suggestion at a workshop titled “Engaging stakeholders in improving cardiovascular in Bangladesh through sodium reduction.”

Non-Communicable Disease Control Programme (NCDCP), National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh and Resolve To Save Lives (RTSL) organized the workshop at a city hotel.

RTSL President and its Chief Executive Dr Tom Frieden made the presentation highlighting global scenario of cardiovascular health.

In his presentation, he said risks of heart diseases and high blood pressure have been lowered significantly and it will prevent deaths caused by non-communicable diseases.

Prof Dr Sohel Reza Chowdhury of National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute said normally people in Bangladesh consume 9 grams of salt a day, which is almost double salt intake as the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended 5 grams for salt intake.

He also said package foods in the country are found with excessive ratio of salt, which are blamed for non-communicable diseases.

Prof Dr. Mohammad Robed Amin of Directorate General of Heath Services said the government is working for 30 percent reduction of salt intake to prevent the alarming rise of heart diseases and other non-communicable diseases.