Salt has long been considered enemy number one for people with heart problems, and doctors advise patients to reduce their sodium intake.
But a new study says excessive salt restriction may actually increase the risk of early death for patients with heart failure.
This study builds on a growing body of research suggesting that the benefits of avoiding salt for this subset of patients may be overstated.
Previous research has linked excess sodium to high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart failure and may exacerbate existing heart failure.
Too much sodium leads to increased fluid retention in the body, which increases the volume of blood inside the blood vessels. When more blood passes through the blood vessels, blood pressure rises, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body.
The Heart Failure Society recommends of America, two to three grams of sodium per day for healthy people. However, people with moderate to severe heart failure should consume less than two grams per day, which is just under one teaspoon.
Sodium is found in almost all foods, making it hard to track and even harder to avoid.
Many people with heart failure have to severely restrict their diet and avoid these foods for fear of consuming too much sodium.
And in a new study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s annual summit last week, doctors said limiting dietary sodium below the usual recommendation was counterproductive.
The researchers pooled data from nine previous clinical trials, each of which evaluated the effectiveness of different levels of sodium restriction in patients with heart failure.
Together, the studies collected data from nearly 3,500 patients with heart failure. After analyzing it, the researchers found that heart failure patients who followed a diet with less than 2.5 grams of sodium per day were 80% more likely to die than those who followed the diet goal of 2.5 grams per day or more.
Dr. Anirud Balicherla of Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, who led the study, said: “Reducing sodium is still a way to help manage heart failure, but the extent of the restriction has been a matter of debate. research shows that the focus should be on establishing a safe level of sodium intake rather than excessive sodium restriction.
The study authors urge the scientific community to continue research on optimal dietary sodium targets in healthy people with potentially fatal conditions.
Until then, to limit sodium intake, experts recommend eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and cooking with key ingredients rather than processed, packaged, and canned foods and sauces, which are often high in sodium.
Source: Daily Mail
