About 900 deaths could be prevented in the Republic every year if everyone in the State reduced their daily salt intake by just half a teaspoon, it was claimed yesterday. Eithne Donnellan, Health Correspondent, reports.
Consultant cardiologist Dr Will Fennell, who made the claim, said that while salt in small amounts is essential for good health, Irish people are now eating up to 10 grams of salt per day when the maximum recommended intake is six grams.
"A diet high in salt can increase blood pressure levels, and in turn increase risk of heart attack or stroke.
"If everyone in Ireland reduced their salt intake by a half teaspoon we could prevent about 900 deaths each year from these diseases."
Dr Fennell, who is president of the Irish Heart Foundation, was speaking at the launch of Irish Heart Week, which begins on Sunday.
The focus of this year's campaign will be to make people aware of the risks of too much salt in their diet, and try to get them to cut down on it.
The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, who launched the campaign, said people are unaware of the amount of salt they consume every day through processed foods, bread and cereals.
"There is a lack of awareness about the fact that if we take in too much salt on a daily basis we can damage our health and particularly our heart health.
"There is a recommended daily intake and we are all exceeding that, and I think it's important that we create an awareness about it, that we assist people in terms of food labelling and identify for people the kind of foods where salt is present," he said.