Dietary salt is a public health hazard that requires vigorous attack.
High blood pressure is the leading cause of premature mortality worldwide. Reducing salt intake lowers blood pressure and blood pressure-lowering reduces vascular disease. There is a very high likelihood that reducing dietary salt intake will prevent vascular disease and no evidence to suggest it will cause harm. With average population salt consumption levels typically 5-10 times greater than physiological requirements, even moderately effective community-wide salt reduction programs offer the potential for very large health gains. This opportunity has been recognized and adopted by the World Health Organization as a priority action to combat chronic diseases.
The George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: bneal@georgeinstitute.org.au.
Bruce
B
Neal
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D011634:Public Health; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary