"A study, published some time ago in the journal Nature, showed that when we add salt to the diet of chimpanzees who usually eat fruit, their blood pressure increases markedly," says Professor Michel. Azizi, head of the arterial hypertension department at the Pompidou hospital, in Paris.
Food salt in excess undoubtedly contributes to the phenomenon.
"
In the late 1990s, governments attempted to regulate and reduce the amount of salt in processed foods and in bread.
The project failed, encountering multiple obstacles.
“In Portugal, on the other hand, the legislation made it possible to do so.
The curve of strokes has bent, ”adds the specialist.
Read also Why eating too much salt is bad for the heart
The problem is simple: our salt consumption is excessive compared to our needs which are of the order of 1 g per day, while we swallow 8 to 10 g.
The World Health Organization recommends not to exceed 6 g daily.
Industrial food and fast food almost always contain excess salt.
Conversely, a diet enriched with fruits and green vegetables reduces blood pressure.
A multifactorial disease
“Alcohol is also a big contributor to high blood pressure.
Binge drinking is associated with relapses.
Chronic excessive consumption exposes people to the risk of hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident and cardiac arrhythmia in hypertensive patients, ”explains Prof. Azizi.
Overweight and lack of physical exercise are also factors of hypertension.
On the other hand, losing weight, lowering your salt intake, exercising, limits this tension.
VIDEO.
Should we stop the salt?
"Hypertension is a multifactorial disease, with a multitude of genetic variants that can contribute to increasing it", notes Michel Azizi. Their effect is amplified by excess salt, obesity, alcohol, sedentary lifestyle… “In our hospital, in addition to medication, therapeutic education sessions for patients aim to teach them to modify their lifestyle. . This is essential. "