Stroke risk as millions of Brits ignore salt warning
Millions of Brits are risking their health by ignoring official advice warning about the dangers of salt intake according to research released this week.
The average person consumes about 40% more salt per day than the maximum recommended amount and although nine in ten Brits say they agree too much salt is bad for their health (92%), almost two-thirds say they’re not remotely concerned about their salt intake (64%), according to research by Siemens.
Yet strokes are the second most common cause of death in the UK, and are the leading cause of adult disability in the country. Strokes kill three times as many women as breast cancer, and it’s estimated around 150,000 people suffer one each year. It’s not just the elderly who suffer either - every week, ten children and babies have a stroke, while a quarter of adults under 65 suffer from the debilitating medical emergency.
But two-fifths of strokes are preventable. Apart from reducing salt intake, exercise is essential in cutting down the chances of a stroke. The vast majority (85%) fail to take the government recommended 30 minutes of exercise five days a week. This lack of regular exercise, combined with a high salt intake, could lead to high blood pressure and an increased risk of suffering a stroke.
The third annual Stroke for Stroke campaign aims to raise awareness of stroke, and this year it will challenge members of the public to row 10km to raise vital funds for The Stroke Association.
Wendy Martinson, Registered Dietician and Sports Nutritionist to the Great Britain Rowing Team, said: “A combination of poor dietary choices and habits, along with lack of regular exercise, could result in serious future health problems. A campaign such as Stroke for Stroke can raise awareness of the importance of taking positive action in your diet and lifestyle to improve your health. The risk of stroke is patently real and these warnings need to be acknowledged.”
For more information visit strokeforstroke.co.uk.
