Excessive salt intake is dangerous to health -- Experts

By Editor

Medical experts have warned Nigerians against high consumption of salt, saying that it is dangerous to health.

A brand Ambassador of Friesland Campina Hospital, Jos, Dr Ihuoma Eugene, said excessive intake of salt raises high blood pressure which may lead to stroke, heart failure and heart attacks.

”A high salt diet can damage the lining of the stomach, causing inflammation of the stomach and thereby increases the risk of stomach cancer and ulcer.

”Some people are very careless with the rate at which they consume salt. They are killing themselves gradually.

“Excess intake of salt will cause damage as it has more negative effect than the positive,” she said.

Eugene said that a small amount of salt is essential for our health. Adults need less than one gramme per day and children need even less.

“High salt diet can disrupt the function of the kidneys and cause existing kidney disease to progress faster.

“Salt can raise the risk of developing diabetes by raising blood pressure, salt has a link with diabetes and not only sugar,” she said.

Eugene, however, called on parents to control the salt intake of their children as “it is dangerous for both adult and children’’.

“Diabetics, asthmatic patients as well as people battling with unstable blood pressure should learn to consume less salt in order not to aggravate any disease,” she said.

She advised that it is healthier cooking with natural herbs like curry, thyme and scent leaf instead of eating processed food and satchet seasoning which could increase the amount of salt intake.

Dr Ernest Okocha, a Haematologist, Almond Diagnostic Medical Laboratory, Anambra, urged that too much intake of salt in the body could lead to frequent urination.

Okocha said that too much sodium chloride in the body could cause coma and seizure.

“Eating too much refined salt can result into hypernatremia disease that can cause water to leach out of your cells and into your blood in an attempt to dilute the excess sodium.

“And when hypernatremia disease occurs and it’s left untreated, it can result into confusion or uncertainty and even untimely death,” he added.

Dr Emmanuel Judon, a Surgeon at the National Hospital, Abuja, advised that too much consumption of salt could lead to stomach cancer.

Judon said that too much intake of sodium chloride in the body could lead to intense thirst which could cause someone to have dry mouth or feel very thirsty.

“Too much consumption of salt can lead to water retention in the body which can result into swollen feet, ankle, hand and swollen face which is abnormal in the body system,” he said.

He also urged that it is required of someone to constantly check their salt levels  to avoid getting infected with any of the diseases.