According to a recent study, persons who consume more salt are more likely to have clogged heart and neck arteries. Heart attacks and strokes can result from atherosclerosis, a narrowing of the arteries caused by plaque.
10,788 individuals between the ages of 50 and 64 participated in the study, which was published in the European Heart Journal Open in March 2023. By analyzing the amounts of sodium, the primary component of salt, in 24-hour urine collections, researchers were able to estimate each participant’s salt intake. All of the study participants underwent neck artery ultrasounds and heart imaging examinations to check for atherosclerosis.
The amount of artery-narrowing plaque in the participants’ necks and hearts increases with their urine salt levels. High blood pressure, a major contributor to atherosclerosis, is closely associated with a high-salt diet. Even those with very slightly raised blood pressure (below 140/90 mm Hg) showed consistent results, nevertheless. According to the scientists, this implies that even those without high blood pressure should limit their salt intake.