Adding salt to every meal increases the risk of heart problems by 20 percent, research shows
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) can increase your risk of stroke by a factor of five
Research shows that adding salt to every meal increases the risk of heart problems by just over a fifth.
Those who always flavored their food were 22 percent more likely to have an irregular heartbeat than those who never or rarely used the seasoning.
The condition, known as atrial fibrillation (AF), can increase your risk of stroke by five times.
Professor James Leiper of the British Heart Foundation said the research was a ‘healthy reminder’ not to consume too much salt.
AF is the most common heart rhythm disorder in Britain, affecting approximately 1.5 million Britons. It can cause the heart to beat too fast, causing problems such as dizziness, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
Previous research has shown that eating too much salt can increase the risk of high blood pressure, which can lead to AF.
Research shows that adding salt to every meal increases the risk of heart problems by just over a fifth
The NHS advises adults not to consume more than 6 grams of salt per day – about a teaspoon.
The study, presented at the conference of the European Society of Cardiology in Amsterdam, looked at data from 395,682 Britons aged 40 to 70 from 2006.
They were asked how regularly they salted their meals, ranging from ‘never/rarely’, ‘sometimes’, ‘usually’ and ‘always’.
Researchers then followed them for 11 years to see how this affected their chances of developing AF.
Those who never added salt to their meals were 18 percent less likely to develop AF than those who always did. Habitual salters were 12 percent less likely, while “occasionally” salters were 15 percent less likely.
Independent experts said the research highlighted the need for people to reduce salt in their diet.
Lead author Dr Yoon Jung Park, from Kyungpook National University Hospital, South Korea, said: ‘Our study indicates that a lower frequency of adding salt to food was associated with a lower risk of AF.’
Professor Leiper added: ‘It is known that eating too much salt can lead to health problems, including high blood pressure.
The NHS advises adults not to consume more than 6 grams of salt per day – about a teaspoon
“High blood pressure not only increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke, but it can also cause damage to your heart and this, in turn, can cause atrial fibrillation.”
“The number of people diagnosed with AF has grown to 1.5 million — a 50 percent increase over the past decade.”
Mhairi Brown, from Consensus Action on Salt, Sugar and Health, said: ‘Decades of research show that eating too much salt is a major cause of high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is responsible for about half of all strokes and heart disease, and the World Health Organization recommends salt reduction as one of the most cost-effective and impactful measures to protect health.
“The government’s analysis shows that cutting back 1 gram of salt a day would lower blood pressure and reduce about 4,000 premature deaths from strokes and heart attacks each year.
“This research is a valuable addition to the scientific base and reinforces the need for strict policies that would help reduce the amount of salt in our food and protect our health from preventable death.”