Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Call to cut back on salt

MADURAI: The excess intake of salt in daily food could become a ‘silent killer' as there is a strong correlation between salt and high blood pressure, Arun Chockalingam, Secretary General, World Hypertension League, Washington, has cautioned.

Urging people to resist from using more salt in their food, he said that salt is among the high risk factors that lead to heart diseases and cardiovascular problems.

“Lifestyle modification is the utmost essential to prevent heart diseases. Along with regular physical activity, reducing salt consumption and eating more fruits/vegetables are equally important to have a healthy heart,” Dr. Arun Chockalingam said talking to The Hindu here on Sunday.

He was in the city to participate in the 20 {+t} {+h} national conference of Indian Society of Hypertension- BPCON 2010- which had participation of medical fraternity from across the country.

“Hypertension means high blood pressure. It is a must to check your BP regularly. One first thing you have to do is to cut down on salt in your food items even though it is difficult,” he advised.

Citing a World Health Organisation recommendation, Dr.Arun Chockalingam informed that the world body says that the salt consumption per person should not be more than 5,000 mg (one tea spoon a day.)

“By taking too much salt, the BP level automatically goes up. The WHO recommended only one tea spoon whereas we are consuming average 15,000mg which means three tea spoons per day,” he cautioned.

.

Dr. Arun Chockalingam, who is associated with the US-based National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, advised that by reducing the BP and keeping it normal, one can prevent strokes, heart attacks, eye complications and kidney problems.

The World Hypertension Day is observed on May 17 every year. For the year 2011, the theme is “Know your number and treat to control.”

“Salt is only an acquired taste. Gradually cut the salt level in your food to half and still reduce down further. By doing that, your risk level also would come down,” he said.

On the second and concluding day of the hypertension national conference, there were several sessions addressed by experts including Padmabhushan B.M.Hegde from Mangalore on the topic ‘Management of Hypertension and Lateral Thinking' and another session by Tiny Nair from Thiruvananthapuram on the topic- ‘Management of Hypertension in Diabetics.'

Those who have queries on salt and its complications can reach Dr.Arun Chockalingam through e-mail: chockalingama@mail.nih.gov.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Periyar University seeks 200 acres
Three, including an infant, killed in wall collapse
SBI donates money for the HIV-affected
Watery grave for two siblings
International Children's film fete on
Medical exhibition inaugurated
Call to cut back on salt
TEXCO cannot insist BSNL to retain security guards: HC
Bench says ‘no' to reconveyance of land acquired 40 years ago
Collector's appeal to brick manufacturers
“Curtail cotton prices”
Bad road condition takes a toll
Madurai Today

Copyright © 2010, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu