(dailyRx)
Americans love salt. That affection doesn’t go both ways. Consuming too much sodium and too little potassium may bring on unnecessary heath risks.
Americans who consume too much sodium and not enough potassium are putting themselves at twice the risk for a heart attack. The findings were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
This is the first study to examine the link between a high sodium and low potassium diet, and the risk of mortality. Researchers reviewed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a survey that assesses the health status of adults in the U.S.
Dr. Elena Kuklina, M.D., a study investigator and a nutritional epidemiologist in the division for heart disease and stroke prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the research results were especially dismaying since the average U.S. adult consumes 3,300 milligrams of sodium each day.
The recommended amount is 1,500 milligrams for adults over age 51, African-Americans, those with hypertension, diabetes or those with chronic kidney disease. That accounts for more than half the population over the age of 2. The remainder should consume no more than 2,300 milligrams daily.
Salt contains 2,325 milligrams of sodium per teaspoon.
Dr. Kuklina said the research suggests a need to reduce sodium in processed foods. Processed food and restaurant food account for 80 percent of an average person’s sodium intake.
Salt intake can be reduced by eating fewer processed foods and choosing fresh fruits and vegetables over frozen and canned. Reading nutrition labels to weed out foods high in salt is also suggested.
The study also recommends increasing potassium intake. Dietary guidelines suggest consuming 4,700 milligrams of potassium each day. Potassium-rich foods include avocados, leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, blackberries, carrots and potatoes.
Such changes can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of other serious health problems.
Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and in the rest of the world. Estimates point to almost one half of all middle aged men and one third of all middle aged women in the United States developing some form of CAD. The primary symptom of angina, commonly known as chest pain, occurs when the artery is almost completely blocked.
Plaques made up of cholesterol and fibrous tissue lodge in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart. Slow growth of the plaques can cause chest pain as they restrict blood flow to the heart muscle, and complete closure or rupture of the plaque can cause a myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, with resulting disability or death. CAD is primarily a disease of diet and habits, with the greatest risk factors coming from smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.