Dietary habits, especially sodium intake, play an important role in the fight against heart disease. A recent study found a worrying trend: people diagnosed with heart disease are consuming more than twice the recommended daily sodium intake.

The findings, presented at the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) Annual Scientific Sessions, spotlight the widespread challenge of maintaining a heart-healthy diet, a struggle that cuts across socioeconomic backgrounds.

Salt: a necessary evil

Sodium is a necessary nutrient for human health, but consuming too much can be a double-edged sword. High sodium levels can increase blood pressure, damage blood vessels, and increase the workload of the heart.

This increased pressure and workload increases fluid retention in the body, which can lead to serious complications such as heart failure.

In response, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines produced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommend that most adults limit their daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg.

For people with cardiovascular disease, the threshold is even more stringent. The recommended intake is no more than 1,500mg per day. This guideline is supported by both the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

Heart patients exceed sodium guidelines

The study looked closely at the dietary habits of more than 3,100 heart patients. The study found an alarming fact: 89% of study participants exceeded the daily limit of 1,500 mg of sodium. Moreover, their average intake rate was more than double the recommended amount.

This overconsumption highlights the complexity of adhering to dietary recommendations and highlights the need for practical solutions to help patients effectively manage their sodium intake. Masu.

“Estimating the sodium content of our diets is a significant challenge,” said Elsie Kodjoe, Ph.D., lead author of the study.

“Food labels can help estimate dietary sodium by indicating the amount of sodium in packaged foods. However, adhering to a low-salt diet is difficult for patients with cardiovascular disease who have a strong incentive to comply. “It remains difficult even for the elderly,” Dr. Kodjoe emphasized.

However, maintaining a low-salt diet remains a practical challenge, especially for those concerned about heart health.

Sodium intake and heart health

The study used patient data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2018 to estimate sodium intake based on self-reported food intake over a 24-hour period.

The results showed that participants with cardiovascular disease had an average daily sodium intake of 3,096 mg. This intake is slightly lower than the national average. However, this is significantly above the levels recommended for heart health.

“The relatively small difference in sodium intake means that people with cardiovascular disease restrict their sodium intake less than the general population and consume more than twice the recommended amount. “This suggests that there is,” Dr. Kodjoe explained.

“To make it easier for patients to adhere to dietary guidelines, we need to find more practical ways for the general public to estimate the sodium concentration of their diets, or source the sodium content of the foods we consume. “We need to look at reducing it directly from,” she said. she continued.

socio-economic insights

This study expanded its scope to examine sodium consumption across different socio-economic groups. A nuanced approach was taken by controlling for factors such as age, gender, race, and education.

The findings are encouraging, revealing no significant differences between these groups. This highlights the universal struggle to reduce sodium intake.

The problem spans economic and social disparities, making it a widespread public health concern rather than an issue limited to one demographic.

Dr. Elsie Kodjoe highlights practical steps for a healthier lifestyle to tackle the challenge of high sodium intake. She highlights home cooking and careful grocery shopping, especially choosing products with less than her 140 mg of sodium per serving, as key strategies.

Additionally, Dr. Kodjoe advocates increasing awareness about the effects of sodium on heart health. This combination of individual action and public education aims to encourage heart-healthy choices and contribute to improved health outcomes.

Aiming for a healthier heart

“Cardiovascular disease is real and, according to the World Health Organization, it is the number one cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide,” Kodjoe said.

“Adhering to sodium guidelines is one strategy that individuals can easily adopt to reduce hospitalizations, medical costs, and morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease,” she concluded. .

The limitations of this study in relying on self-reported food intake to estimate salt intake are noteworthy, and future studies may utilize 24-hour urine sodium measurements to obtain more accurate data. It suggests that there is.

Nevertheless, the research insights into sodium intake in heart disease patients are invaluable and provide a clear call to action for both individuals and policy makers to prioritize dietary changes in the fight against cardiovascular disease. Offering a call.

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