Danger Of Salt and Spice intake'

Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the American College of Physicians and Provost, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Prof Matthew Araoye has warned that cooking with salt and spices amounts to high salt intake and could lead to hypertension.

Araoye who spoke at the 32nd convocation of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, said findings have showed that surplus table salt in food increase hypertension risk.
Regretting high incidence of hypertension, he described it as the most common, potent and universal contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the black race.

“Primarily, high blood pressure damages the major blood vessels and the targeted organs are the heart, brain and kidneys which later result to heart failure, stroke, kidney failure and sudden death.”
Araoye said hypertension can be acquired at any stage and majority of cases have no symptoms and that most hypertensives are not aware until they suffer complications.

In Nigeria, 54 to 80 percent of stroke is secondary to hypertension. Most of occur in the 30 to 62 years of age group. The extent of damage depends on the level and duration of hypertension.”
He noted that the occurrence of hypertension in certain individuals and not in others subjected to similar amounts of salt intake depend largely on the body system.

On salt abuse, he said it depends on ability of the kidneys to excrete the excess salt. But if the kidneys fail to perform as demanded, it overwhelms the body with excess salt, and hypertension ensues.

“For those on drug therapy for hypertension, do not adopt the prescription of your neighbour or spouse because what controls hypertension in ‘Mr. A’ does not necessarily work for ‘B’ or their wives.

“Primary hypertension has no cure; the objective of drug management is to achieve blood pressure control. So, let no one deceive you about cure. When you achieve BP control, do not stop your medication and check your BP regularly. Be sure to relax both mentally and physically when your BP is being checked.”

He called for less indulgence in red meat, eggs and milk products., lifestyle modification, and avoiding fried, seasoned and enriched food.