Reduce eating salt to cut high blood pressure, PAHO warns
Published:Monday | July 14, 2014 | 9:14 AM
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is urging Caribbean people to cut the amount of salt they eat to help reduce hypertension.
According to PAHO, hypertension, commonly called high blood pressure, is the leading risk factor for heart disease.
PAHO director, Dr Carissa Etienne, says salt reduction is the most cost-effective intervention for population-based prevention and could save 8.5 million lives globally over 10 years.
Etienne also says more countries should launch national salt reduction initiatives to prevent hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
Between one-fifth and one-third of adults in the Americas suffer from high blood pressure.
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