How a simple salt swap could reduce Aussies’ stroke risk

 Will your incompetent? doctor and hospital know enough to get the dietician to update diet protocols on this?

Do you prefer your doctor, hospital and board of director's incompetence NOT KNOWING? OR NOT DOING?

Of course your competent? doctor told you about the salt controversary years ago, right?

You'll want your competent? doctor to explain all these and give you an EXACT PROTOCOL ON SALT! Noting how much salt your brain needs to function properly! If your doctor doesn't know that, how much else doesn't s/he know? And you're being treated for a brain injury by them?

But this:

 

Review finds no proven clinical benefit to strict salt restriction for patients with heart failure

And this:

In many high income countries, approximately 75% of salt in the diet comes from processed foods and meals prepared outside the home.  So, this China study may not have much relevance in your country.

Intake of potassium- and magnesium-enriched salt improves functional outcome after stroke: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind controlled trial January 2018

Low-Salt Diet Ineffective, Study Finds. Disagreement Abounds. June 2011 

The wrong white crystals: not salt but sugar as aetiological in hypertension and cardiometabolic disease December 2014

Why Everything We Know About Salt May Be Wrong May 2017 

Researchers reveal surprising findings on how salt affects blood flow in the brain

November 2021 

You'll want your competent? doctor to explain these and give you an EXACT PROTOCOL ON SALT!

 

 The latest here:

How a simple salt swap could reduce Aussies’ stroke risk

Aussies have been urged to shake things up in the kitchen and at the dinner table by making a simple swap that could reduce their risk of high blood pressure (hypertension); the leading cause of preventable death in Australia.

A new paper by Australia’s National Hypertension Taskforce recommends substituting regular salt, which is high in sodium, with potassium-enriched salt, saying the switch can significantly reduce high blood pressure and the risk of stroke and heart attacks, particularly for people already living with hypertension.

National Hypertension Taskforce member and Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr Lisa Murphy, says this small change can make a big difference.

“Your traditional Sunday roast or summer barbecue will still taste the same but will be better for your health. Research shows us that high sodium consumption is linked to hypertension so replacing sodium with potassium, an important mineral found in fruit and vegetables, is a simple but effective way to reduce your risk. And to make life easier, you can find potassium-enriched salt at your local supermarket.”

A recent global modelling study on the health effects of switching from regular salt to potassium-enriched salt by The George Institute of Global Health found replacing regular salt with potassium-enriched salt in Australia alone could prevent approximately 500 stroke deaths and 2,000 stroke events each year.

“This recommendation aligns with the latest international guidance from the World Health Organization, the European Society of Cardiology, and the American Heart Association, and has the potential to save thousands of Australian lives,” Dr Murphy said.

High blood pressure affects around one in three Australian adults and remains the leading cause of preventable death and disability nationwide. Excess sodium and insufficient potassium intake are key dietary drivers. Despite the strong evidence supporting the benefits of potassium-enriched salt, it is inconsistently recommended by clinicians and rarely used by patients.

“This is due mostly to clinicians and patients being unaware of the availability, effectiveness and acceptability of potassium-enriched salt and we want to change that,” Dr murphy said.

It is hoped the taskforce’s position, published in the National Journal of Hypertension, paves the way for the recommendations to be adopted more widely and marks an important step forward in the national effort to prevent and control hypertension.

The National Hypertension Taskforce was founded by the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance (ACvA) and Hypertension Australia, with significant support from Stroke Foundation and Heart Foundation as cofounding members. The Taskforce aims to increase the number of Australians with their blood pressure both treated and controlled effectively from 32% to 70% by 2030.