The Journal of the American Medical Association has recently published a study, claiming that cardiovascular patients are at increased risk of getting severe cardiovascular problem if they consume salt either in excess or in scanty amount.

In order to prove link between high sodium intake and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, 3,000 patients were enrolled. This study was supported by other study being carried out by Prof. Martin O’Donnell from University Hospital Galway.

It was found that if cardiovascular patients consume more than 8,000 mg or less than 3,000 mg of salt per day then they are at risk of having chronic heart disease like cardiac arrest.

Prof. O’Donnell said, “Our findings emphasize the burden of cardiovascular disease associated with excess sodium intake and the importance of population-based programs to reduce sodium intake in populations consuming high-sodium diets”.

Researchers said that heart patients would not have any problem till the time they follow these limits. But the limits are quite high when compared to the limits being given by the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association.

In the WHO, the maximum limit per day for sodium intake is 2,000 mg/day and the AHA follows limit of 1,500 mg/day. But, researchers are of the view that these gaps have been active for a long time now. They have not discarded thoughts of the WHO and AHA, and have called for extensive research in this matter where they said they would assess effects of reduced sodium intake on heart patients.

This suggestion has been welcomed by Paul Whelton from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans. He said it is very important to assess the reaction on heart when body receives less sodium. Whelton said that having balanced diet would be the best option for heart patients as they would get optimum level of salt and potassium, which is also important for maintaining a healthy heart.