Latest news with #SaltAwarenessWeek
The Citizen
17-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Expectant mothers encouraged to check on their hypertension this month
Expectant mothers encouraged to check on their hypertension this month With World Hypertension Day on May 17, expecting mothers are encouraged to monitor their stress as it could pose health complications. Local obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Rogers Mmabatswa is launching an awareness campaign aimed at educating residents about the dangers of high blood pressure and the importance of early detection and care. 'Routine monitoring of blood pressure during pregnancy is crucial. Early detection and proper management can significantly reduce the risk of both mother and baby,' Dr Mmabatswa said. May is often recognised as Hypertension Awareness Month to raise awareness about the risks and prevention of high blood pressure. In South Africa, there's also Salt Awareness Week from May 15-21, emphasising the link between salt intake and hypertension. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects 10% of pregnancies worldwide and is a leading cause of maternal and neonatal complications, including preeclampsia, preterm birth and low birth weight. Ways to combat hypertension include: – Reduced caffeine intake – Limit alcohol – Less salt – Less processed foods – More exercise – Enough hours of sleep – Quit smoking – Lose weight Expectant mothers and their families are encouraged to consult with their healthcare providers about hypertension screening. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
TimesLIVE
13-05-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
One teaspoon too far: why 5g of salt is the limit your body can handle
Many of us reach for the salt shaker without a second thought, but health experts are sounding the alarm. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the recommended daily limit for sodium is less than 2,300 milligrams — just one teaspoon (5g) of salt. Yet most South Africans exceed this amount, often without realising it. Cari Erasmus, a registered dietitian from the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSFSA) says we should monitor our salt intake. 'Monitoring your salt intake is crucial to managing sodium levels and maintaining overall health. Too much salt can have detrimental health effects over time, making mindful consumption essential,' said Erasmus. Erasmus adds that measuring exactly 5g of salt is challenging, especially when so many processed and packaged foods are already high in sodium. 'As a practical approach, it's best to be on the side of caution and use less salt when cooking, gradually adjusting to taste. Try the 'salt later' method whereby you add a small amount towards the end of cooking or at the table and always taste your food before adding more,' she advised. Excess salt consumption is not just a dietary concern — it's a major public health issue. The HSFSA warns that high sodium intake increases the risk of high blood pressure, a leading cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including strokes and heart attacks. 'Unfortunately, South Africans tend to consume more than the recommended daily amount, which significantly increases the risk of heart disease, kidney problems and even some cancers,' the foundation said. The foundation's team lead for nutrition science, Shonisani Nephalama, explains why sodium matters. 'When we consume too much sodium, it increases fluid levels outside our cells, raising blood volume and putting added pressure on the heart. Normally, the kidneys filter out excess sodium but a consistently high intake can overwhelm them, leading to high blood pressure and kidney damage,' said Nephalama. This year's Salt Awareness Week, which is from May 12-18 focuses on the theme '5 Ways to 5 Grams' aligning with the World Action on Salt, Sugar and Health (WASSH). The campaign is designed to empower the public with simple strategies to reduce daily salt intake and protect their heart and brain health. The CEO of the HSFSA, Prof Pamela Naidoo, says the goal is to spread awareness of salt's role in fuelling life-threatening conditions like strokes and heart disease. 'We want the public to know the truth about salt and the power of small behavioural changes. Every step counts and collectively we can make a powerful impact on national health,' she says. To help South Africans embrace a lower-salt lifestyle, the HSFSA is promoting five actionable tips: 1. Season smart — Gradually reduce the amount of salt in your cooking. Use herbs, garlic, ginger, lemon, chilli and spices to add flavour. 2. Taste before you salt — You might not need more salt than what's already in your food. 3. Read labels — Check sodium content on packaged foods and look for the HSFSA's Heart Mark logo. 4. Ditch the shaker — Removing the salt shaker from the table helps break the automatic habit. 5. Cook more at home — Home-cooked meals give you control over your ingredients and help you avoid hidden salt in restaurant or fast food. The foundation also encourages increasing intake of potassium-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils and low-fat dairy which help balance sodium in the body. 'Potassium promotes sodium excretion and relaxes blood vessels, which can help lower blood pressure,' says the foundation. The statistics are sobering. In 2021, CVD accounted for one in every seven deaths in South Africa. 'By supporting each other in adopting healthier habits, we can make a powerful impact. Every small step counts. By working together, we can save thousands of lives and significantly reduce disease and disability,' says the foundation.
eNCA
11-05-2025
- Health
- eNCA
How less salt means more life
JOHANNESBURG - Salt of the earth? Sure, but being salty could break your heart. This Salt Awareness Week, the Heart and Stroke Foundation is calling a timeout on salty habits. Turns out, most of us are sprinkling way more than the recommended 5 grams of salt a day. This puts your heart, brain, and kidneys at serious risk. This year's theme, '5 Ways to 5 Grams,' is more than a catchy slogan; it's a wake-up call.
Mail & Guardian
05-05-2025
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
Health Campaigns: Salt awareness week and world hypertension day
The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa is sounding the alarm on the devastating impact of excessive salt consumption on the nation's heart and brain health. This year's theme, ' Your Brain and Heart Cannot Take the Pressure! ' highlights the importance of maintaining a stable blood pressure for good overall health, and specifically for heart and brain health. Understanding the critical link between excessive salt consumption, hypertension, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular ill-health is crucial. The Foundation's theme was carefully crafted to align with World Hypertension Day on May 17th and draws inspiration from global public health initiatives, including those driven by the World Action on Salt, Sugar and Health (WASSH). This synergy is reflected in the global theme for Salt Awareness Week (12-18 May 2025), '5 Ways to 5 Grams', and the World Hypertension League's theme, 'Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer'. Both themes emphasize the importance of managing blood pressure through informed choices. The causes of hypertension are complex, involving behavioral factors like unhealthy diets, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption, as well as genetic predispositions. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is identified as a condition in which the blood pressure is over 140/90 mmhg on multiple occasions. Blood pressure is the pressure that is exerted by the blood on the interior arterial walls. It is measured and recorded as a systolic pressure over a diastolic pressure. Systolic (the top number) is the pressure exerted on the arterial walls when the heart contracts or beats and the diastolic pressure (the bottom number) is the pressure exerted between heart beats or when the heart muscles relax. Elevated blood pressure can cause significant damage to both blood vessels and organs like the kidneys, heart, and brain. The longer and higher the pressure remains elevated, the greater the risk of damage. This can lead to conditions such as arteriosclerosis (hardening and thickening of arteries) and aneurysms (bulges or weakening of blood vessels), which can have severe consequences. A ruptured aneurysm can be life-threatening, while arteriosclerosis can reduce blood flow, straining organs and blood vessels, and potentially causing heart failure, kidney damage, vision loss, cognitive issues, and dementia. Your brain and heart literally cannot handle the increased pressure! The strain on the body from these conditions is significant, and the risks associated with hypertension don't stop there. Hypertension during pregnancy can have severe consequences for both the mother and baby, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in life. Conditions like gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia affect up to 10% of pregnancies and can program long-term cardiovascular health risks. The critical first 1000 days of a child's life, from conception to age two, shape cardiovascular development and future hypertension risk. Maternal health and nutrition during this period play a crucial role in fetal development, influencing the child's cardiovascular system and potentially setting the stage for lifelong blood pressure trends. This early life foundation can be further compounded by genetic factors, as seen in familial hypertension. Knowing your family medical history is essential, as individuals with a family history of hypertension are more likely to develop high blood pressure due to the interaction of multiple genetic variants and environmental factors. A study by Li et al., (2021) revealed that individuals with a family history of hypertension are four times more likely to develop high blood pressure compared to those without. Building on this, a recent South African study by Katsukunya et al., (2024) further explored the genetic aspect, finding that certain genes may influence an individual's response to antihypertensive medication, potentially making some people more resistant to treatment. Managing hypertension requires a comprehensive approach that includes medication adherence and behavior modifications. Unfortunately, medication non-adherence remains a significant challenge, particularly in low- to middle-income countries. A recent study (2024) in Sub-Saharan Africa found that 43.5% of adults treated for hypertension were non-adherent, translating to two out of every five adults struggling with their treatment plans. The challenges are multifaceted, including other health issues, side effects, and complex medication regimens, often exacerbated by limited resources or inadequate healthcare access. Socioeconomic factors like unemployment, poverty, and lack of social support further compound the issue. According to the American Heart Association, 12% of patients never fill their initial prescriptions, and non-persistence rates range from 30% to 80% in the first year. To address these challenges, prioritizing social support and patient-centered care is crucial. Systemic issues like lack of health insurance and high medication costs must also be tackled to improve treatment adherence and reduce hypertension-related morbidity and mortality. As mentioned, excessive salt consumption is a significant risk factor for high blood pressure, and reducing salt intake to less than 5g per day is recommended by the World Health Organization. Seasoning smart involves gradually reducing salt in favorite recipes and exploring flavorful alternatives like herbs, raw spices, garlic, ginger, chilli, and lemon. When shopping, reading labels and opting for low-sodium options is a good idea – consider joining the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa webinar to learn how to decode food labels and spot the Heart Mark logo, a seal of approval. Breaking the salt habit means ditching the salt shaker and encouraging others to do the same. It's also important to be mindful of hidden salt in everyday foods like bread, cereals, and processed meats. Cooking meals at home using fresh ingredients can help control salt intake. A diet rich in nutrient-dense foods like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lentils, beans, and low-fat dairy can support healthy blood pressure. In conclusion, prioritizing heart and brain health is crucial in the fight against hypertension. By adopting simple yet powerful habits – reducing salt intake, increasing physical activity, getting regular blood pressure checks, adhering to medication regimens, and knowing your family medical history – individuals can significantly reduce their risk of developing heart, brain, and other circulatory conditions. Given that CVD remains a leading cause of death in South Africa, claiming one in every seven lives, collective action can drive meaningful change. By supporting one another in embracing healthier habits, we can save thousands of lives, reduce CVD morbidity and mortality, and improve overall well-being.
