Thursday, September 27, 2012

Diet part 2: Children's high blood pressure?

We've all heard about salt - as in, people in the United States generally consume too much of it. That, in turn, can cause raise blood pressure. That, in turn, becomes the biggest stroke risk factor.

Typically, we're talking adults. But now, new research indicates, too much salt spells health trouble for kids too:
Most adults consume too much sodium and that can have serious health implications. Too much salt in a person's diet can raise your blood pressure; high blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke.
In this new study, published ... in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found that if a child is overweight and eats as much salt as an adult, the risk for high blood pressure goes up dramatically.
Health experts recommend that most people eat no more than 2,300 milligrams of salt a day, the equivalent of 1 teaspoon. But children and adults alike are consuming, on average, about 3,400 milligrams daily, according to the study.
Can't start too young in stroke prevention!


No comments: