# RKS: ALL ABOUT SALT & HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE – Can Lessened Papad & Pickle Intake Slice High BP Risk?

 

# RKS: ALL ABOUT SALT & HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE –

Can Lessened Papad & Pickle Intake Slice High BP Risk?

1st February 2021

THE SALT INTAKE ENIGMA

For adults, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends to consume less than 5 grams (g) [just under a teaspoon (tsp)] of salt per day. However, most people, including Indians, consume too much salt - on average 9 to 12 g per day, or around twice the recommended maximum level of intake.

Over time, excessive salt intake can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension) and hence it is also reported that prolonged modest reduction in its intake supposedly induces a relevant fall in blood pressure in hypertensive individuals. Between 40-60 years of age the number of sufferers of various grades of high blood pressure (BP) is as follows:

• Borderline BP (130-139 & 85-89 mm Hg): 40-45% 

• Mild High BP (140-159 & 90-99 mm Hg): 15%

• Moderate High BP (160-179 & 100-109 mm Hg): 5%

• Severe High BP (>180 & >110 mm Hg): <5%

Borderline cases are considered as pre-hypertension whilst all others are sufferers of high blood pressure and these require to normalise their readings to less than 140 mm Hg (systolic) and less than 90 mm Hg (diastolic). Reduction of salt intake by 6 g daily has been reported to reduce systolic / diastolic pressure by 7 & 4 mm Hg (respectively) only. Hence, except in those mild hypertensives, when pressures could be kissing the upper defined levels, salt restriction alone is never entirely helpful - medication is the uncompromising need. Then why deprive the saltiness love in food items consumed when one has to take drugs for their high blood pressure already? It is merely a question of adjusting the tablet dose to optimally control the BP sans lifestyle pleasures bereft.

Telling the blood pressure patient, who is already on pills, to cut down salt, much to his disliking, is to make him / her miserable for the rest of life, and curse the illness, and remind him / her forever of the otherwise dreaded hypertension! Remember it is not hypertension which maims or kills, it is less than optimally controlled BP. Salt restriction is most desirous in those who are pre-hypertensives or borderline mild sufferers since mere sodium intake lessening can favour optimal BP maintenance - no need of any additional drugs. 

• One urad papad (8.3 gm weight approx.): contains 0.12 g sodium 

• One tsp sweet & sour mango pickle: 0.25 g sodium

One need to be objective - when 6 g reduction of sodium can reduce pressure by 7 mm systolic & 4 mm diastolic - how much would avoiding 1-2 papads or 1-2 tsp of pickle help in better control of pressure if one is already taking the conventional BP lowering medicines!?

It may augur well to remember that salt intake of less than 2.4 g can, in fact, lead to higher incidence of risk of heart-related deaths [Am J Med 2012; 125(5): 434-439]. Hence, taking salt is not a fully acknowledged poison. One could enjoy its imparted saltiness to food unabashedly; and there is seemingly no need to discontinue this joy when you already are on pills for high blood pressure - the hypertension is more than just mild, and is being optimally controlled with other lifestyle changes and drug therapy with appropriate doses.

It is but a necessity to dissect medical and health-related facts more scientifically if one is to enjoy life albeit safely. Even 15 pieces of the famous brand of potato chips weighing 28 g will give us 0.17 g of salt!

Stay Healthy. 

But do not forget to ...

Enjoy the Deserving Pleasures of Life.

DR R K SANGHAVI

Prophesied Enabler

Experience & Expertise: Clinician & Healthcare Industry Adviser