Does Salt Intake Increase Your Risk of Stroke

Salt Intake Linked to Stroke Risk

Lots of men take over the kitchen during the festive period and assume cooking responsibilities for Christmas dinner.

Along with the occasional barbeque it is traditional a chance for men to show off their culinary skills.

This year however, a warning has been issued about the amount of salt people consume after a new study suggested a link to heart disease.

Researchers from Coventry, England and Naples, Italy conducted a systematic review of 13 studies published in the British Medical Journal and found that high levels of salt intake can be associated with significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

The researchers pooled results from adult studies published between 1966 and 2008.

Higher salt intake was associated with and a 14 per cent higher risk of cardiovascular disease and a 23 per cent greater risk of stroke.

"This meta-analysis shows unequivocally that higher salt intake is associated with a greater incidence of strokes and total cardiovascular disease," said the authors.

Salt added to products by the food industry was said by the authors to be one of the biggest hurdles to overcome if habitual salt intake was to be reduced.

For more information on strokes and other health related issues please visit the Health and Fitness section on GKHealth.