Ebola: Two dead, 20 others hospitalised over excessive salt consumption

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">At least two persons have been feared dead with 20 others hospitalized in various hospitals in Plateau State after consuming excessive quantity of salt and bitter kola to prevent Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) attack following a viral message on social media that it could prevent the spread of the Ebola virus.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/salt-bath.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="salt-bath" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-458691" height="231" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/salt-bath.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="412" /></span></a></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In Abuja the Federal Government advised Nigerians to disregard the text message and postings on social media that hot water and salt may be used to prevent Ebola infection and cure infected persons.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The deceased whose identities could not be ascertained at the time of this report were said to be hypertension patients.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A resident who worships in the same church with one of the deceased, Atang Itse said he does not know “much about the woman but she worships at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Hwolshe” confirmed she died “this evening as a result of salt she took in the night when everyone was bathing and drinking salt water”.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The source added the other victim was a taxi driver who plied Jos city and neighbouring local government areas.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">However, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, Dr. Elias Pede who is holding forte for the Commissioner, Dr. Fom Dakwak said “he was not aware of any dead” though he had earlier confirmed to other journalist that “one person died but full details were yet to be received.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A text message asking Nigerians to prevent Ebola attack by drinking salt water and bathing with it went viral in the country this week.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hot water, salt can’t cure Ebola FG warns</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In Abuja the Federal Government advised Nigerians to disregard the text message and postings on social media that hot water and salt may be used to prevent Ebola infection and cure infected persons.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, said in a statement in Abuja on Friday that the people should disregard such rumours as cure had yet to be found for the disease.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The message reads: “Please ensure that you and your family and all your neighbours bath with hot water and salt before daybreak today because of Ebola virus which is spreading through the air.’’</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Maku said the information being circulated to Nigerians about the cure for the disease was false and should not be taken seriously.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Nigerians have been urged to disregard rumours being circulated in the social media that bathing with hot water and salt cures the Ebola disease.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“There is no cure yet for the Ebola disease, what is being circulated is only a rumour that will only mislead Nigerians,’’ he said.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The minister said Nigerians had already been informed on the necessary steps to adopt to avoid the spread of the virus and would be duly informed on additional measures when necessary.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He urged the people to continue to maintain maximum environmental and personal hygiene to guard against contracting the virus.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The federal and state governments have been on the alert on the control of a possible spread of the virus and the number of infected persons rises in Lagos.<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The government had also dismissed claims that bitter kola could be used to cure the disease or prevent people from contracting the disease. (NAN)</span><br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Apple Watch...It's Coming Soon</span><br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="Apple iWatch Can Be Launching With 1.7 “ and 1.3 “ Variants" border="0" class="slingpic_reset" height="456" scale="0" src="http://www.zadtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Apple-iWatch-Can-Be-Launching-With-1.7-and-1.3-Variants_thumb.jpg" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; bottom: auto !important; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; height: auto !important; left: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; max-width: 100% !important; padding: 0px; position: relative !important; right: auto !important; text-align: justify; top: auto !important; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Apple iWatch Can Be Launching With 1.7 “ and 1.3 “ Variants" width="590" /></span></div> <br /></div>

Ebola: Two dead, 20 others hospitalised over excessive salt consumption

At least two persons have been feared dead with 20 others hospitalized in various hospitals in Plateau State after consuming excessive qua...

Read more »

Ebola sparks panic across Nigeria as citizens scramble for salt-water bath “remedy”

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <strong>Faced with threat from a dreaded disease that has neither cure nor vaccine, panicking Nigerians are turning to salt water bath recommended by a Nigerian king.</strong><br /> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span id="more-166257" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nigerians are scrambling for salt-water bath for protection from the deadly Ebola virus after a call from the ruler of the Igala Kingdom, the Attah of Igala, prescribing salt solution as a magical vaccine against the virus went viral.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But the Nigerian government has issued a statement warning that bathing with salted water is not a cure for the deadly Ebola Virus.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Local radio and TV stations in Kogi state quoted the monarch, the Attah of Igala, Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni, late Thursday, as making the prescriptions from his palace in Idah, the traditional capital of Igalaland.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mr. Oboni offered the purported prescription after the Nigerian government declared that the pandemic had become a national emergency.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The prescription, originally intended for people of the Igala Kingdom, quickly went viral on social media and text messaging platforms.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Relatives also exchanged telephone calls advising one another to bath with salt-water solution.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The salt solution bath remedy was reinforced after claims that a Catholic priest, Ejike Mbaka, also asked his followers to perform some religious rituals which included drinking salt water.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Salt and water are the major ingredients of the Holy Water used for a wide range of physical and spiritual purpose by Catholics.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Igala vaccine</strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Igala king’s “magical prescription” was received with great enthusiasm by residents panicked by the spread of the virus around the West African subregion.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to local report, the monarch prescribed that a pinch of salt be added to about 15 litres of water and used for a soapless bath.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">One bath with the salt solution is all that is required, residents who admitted performing the ‘immunization’ ritual, told PREMIUM TIMES.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“We have nothing to lose with a salt water bath,” Attanasius Ameh, a resident of Idah in Kogi state said, justifying the ritual.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He argued that faced with a no-vaccine-no-cure situation, a simple salt solution bath as a potential vaccine was a chance shot at survival many were willing to take.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I have done it,” Juliet Gimba, a resident of Lokoja said. “I put a pinch of salt in a bucket full of water and had my bath without soap. I bathed all my children with it too. There is no cure for Ebola. This is the best I can do to protect my family.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There is no medical proof that salt water solution could prevent the transmission of Ebola.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The king did not also explain how he came about the prescription.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nonetheless, many Nigerians who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES admitted they’ve had the saline bath.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">An Abuja resident, Patience Enang, 36, told PREMIUM TIMES that her husband, a soldier, had called her by 5am, Friday morning, from Kaduna, asking her to bath their three children with the solution. She did.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Maiduguri salt rush</strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Residents of Maiduguri, capital city of Borno state, defiled the tense security situation in the state to join in the ritual bath frenzy after text messages were circulated late Thursday night.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Many cut short their sleeps to carry out the ritual.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In Maiduguri, the vaccination had a twist. It was to be performed within a given period.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Ebola has finally entered Maiduguri! To prevent ebola sickness use hot water to bathe before 4am. Ebola is real!” the text message, which sent residents scampering for the bath late in the night, read.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Some residents, who did not have salt in their homes, had to go knocking on the doors of their neighbours around 3.00 am, just to beat the ‘deadline’.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A different version of the Maiduguri ritual bath included instructions to recite some verses of the Quran, drink part of the salted water before bathing with the rest.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">All these were to be done before 4a.m.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Mystical lineage</strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Attah of Igala, <span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Idakwo Michael</span> Ameh Oboni, is believed to have mystical powers, inherited from his father, Attah Ameh Oboni, who is regarded – in the kingdom – to be as powerful as some unknown gods.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The elder Attah Oboni is revered for his stiff resistance of Britain during the colonial era, and the Sultanate, which tried to annex Igalaland as part of the largely muslim Sokoto caliphate.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The late king’s subjects also have fond memories of his struggles in protecting the ancient traditions of the Igalas, as well as asserting himself, in the face of pressures to substitute his influence in Igala Kingdom with colonial rule.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He reportedly fought with magical powers.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">He is believed to have committed suicide in 1957 after he got intelligence the British colonial government planned to depose and exile him.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Igalas are the dominant tribe in Kogi state, North-central Nigeria, with a population of about two million.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kogi state sits on the Nigerian map as the main land link between south-east and south-south part of Nigeria to the capital, Abuja, and the rest of northern Nigeria.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ebola Virus, virulent killer</strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ebola is currently ravaging the West African region, with Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea worst hit in the outbreak that started back in February.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nigeria was dragged into the mess late July after Patrick Sawyer, an American-Liberian touched down in the Lagos international airport with a fully manifested Ebola Virus disease.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ebola is highly contagious. It is transmitted via contact with body fluids such as blood, saliva, semen or body discharges of infected persons.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nigeria’s health ministry says a Nigerian nurse in the Lagos hospital where Mr. sawyer was treated also died of the disease.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Six others, who had primary contact with Mr. Sawyer, have been confirmed positive with the virus.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ebola is a highly fatal virus, killing up to nine of every 10 victims. There is no known cure or vaccine for the disease and it is unknown why those who survive it make it alive.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But two Americans are currently recovering from the disease after they were administered with a test serum.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Medical experts, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES say a salt water bath is not harmful to human body when used moderately.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But they warned that Ebola is better warded off by following simple self hygiene rules like washing hands, avoiding infected victims or bodies and avoiding bush meats.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But the Nigerian government has issued a statement warning that bathing with salted baths is not a cure for the deadly Ebola Virus.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.3em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- See more at: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/166257-ebola-sparks-panic-across-nigeria-as-citizens-scramble-for-salt-water-bath-remedy.html#sthash.4Lxt4zyi.0tdO4eGM.dpuf</span></div>

Ebola sparks panic across Nigeria as citizens scramble for salt-water bath “remedy”

Faced with threat from a dreaded disease that has neither cure nor vaccine, panicking Nigerians are turning to salt water bath recommended ...

Read more »

What you should know about salt and hypertension

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="itemToolbar" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border: none; float: right; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <ul style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <li style="background-image: none; border: none; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 0px 8px; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" id="fontDecrease" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: url(http://www.tribune.com.ng/templates/sj_flatnews/images/system/font_decrease.gif); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; height: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2px; text-decoration: none; width: 13px;"><img alt="decrease font size" src="http://www.tribune.com.ng/components/com_k2/images/system/blank.gif" style="background-image: url(http://www.tribune.com.ng/components/com_k2/images/system/font_decrease.gif); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; height: 13px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 13px;" /> </a><a href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" id="fontIncrease" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 2px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="increase font size" src="http://www.tribune.com.ng/components/com_k2/images/system/blank.gif" style="background-image: url(http://www.tribune.com.ng/components/com_k2/images/system/font_increase.gif); background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; height: 13px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 13px;" /> </a></li> <li style="background-image: none; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 0px 8px; text-align: center;"><a class="itemPrintLink" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension?tmpl=component&print=1" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;">Print </a></li> <li style="background-image: none; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 0px 8px; text-align: center;"><a class="itemEmailLink" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/component/mailto/?tmpl=component&template=sj_flatnews&link=f8c442ee593d3ecc24e90eba0ac588672211c256" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;">Email</a></li> </span></ul> </div> <div class="item-info" style="margin-bottom: 15px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dr Abiodun Adeoye </span></div> <div class="itemRatingBlock" style="padding: 8px 0px;"> <div class="itemRatingForm" style="float: left; vertical-align: middle;"> <ul class="itemRatingList" style="background-image: url(http://www.tribune.com.ng/components/com_k2/images/system/transparent_star.gif); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; float: left; height: 25px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 125px;"> <li class="itemCurrentRating" id="itemCurrentRating11580" style="background-image: url(http://www.tribune.com.ng/components/com_k2/images/system/transparent_star.gif); background-position: 0px 50%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: inline; height: 25px; left: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-indent: 0px; top: 0px; width: 0px; z-index: 1;"></li> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <li style="background-image: none; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="one-star" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; top: 0px; width: 25px; z-index: 6;" title="1 star out of 5">1</a></li> <li style="background-image: none; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="two-stars" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; top: 0px; width: 50px; z-index: 5;" title="2 stars out of 5">2</a></li> <li style="background-image: none; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="three-stars" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; top: 0px; width: 75px; z-index: 4;" title="3 stars out of 5">3</a></li> <li style="background-image: none; display: inline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="four-stars" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; top: 0px; width: 100px; z-index: 3;" title="4 stars out of 5">4</a><a class="five-stars" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: none; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; top: 0px; width: 125px; z-index: 2;" title="5 stars out of 5"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></a><a class="five-stars" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: none; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; top: 0px; width: 125px; z-index: 2;" title="5 stars out of 5"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></a><a class="five-stars" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: none; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; top: 0px; width: 125px; z-index: 2;" title="5 stars out of 5"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">P</span></a><a class="five-stars" href="http://www.tribune.com.ng/columns/inside/a-healthy-heart/item/11580-what-you-should-know-about-salt-and-hypertension#" rel="11580" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: none; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; height: 25px; left: 0px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-decoration: none; top: 0px; width: 125px; z-index: 2;" title="5 stars out of 5"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">)</span></a></li> </span></ul> <div class="clr" style="border: none; clear: both; float: none; height: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div> <div class="clr" style="border: none; clear: both; float: none; height: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </div> </div> <div class="itemBody" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="itemFullText"> <div id="ebzNative_above"> </div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <img alt="salt2" src="http://www.tribune.com.ng/images/salt2.jpg" style="border: 0px; float: left; height: auto; margin: 10px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sustained raised blood pressure otherwise called hypertension is not a respecter of person or nation. Hypertension is of global health concern affecting the rich, the poor, educated ones and those not privileged to attend school.  </span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Heart failure, myocardial infarction, kidney failure, and stroke result majorly from poorly treated hypertension. Despite the advance in management of hypertension and availability of genuine drug, less than third of the people with hypertension get their blood pressure well controlled, i.e., the level at which complication may not occur. If this is the case, prevention is the best option, which is cheaper and affordable by all and sundry. </span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">High salt intake has long been associated with high blood pressure and reasonably, one would expect prevention of hypertension, if we all cut down on  the consumption of salt. But with controversy on salt and hypertension, some people are getting confused.  Certain researchers believe that salt is not the cause of hypertension while some say it is an interplay of several factors meaning removing other factors, consumption of salt irrespective of type or quantity is not associated with raised blood pressure. In this column, I would want our esteemed readers to make an informed choice as examine the effect of salt in the body especially cardiovascular system.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What is salt?</strong></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Salt and sodium are interchangeably used depending on which part of the world you are.  Most countries like Nigeria use “salt” while in USA and Canada, the term “sodium” is used. However, on a weight basis,salt comprises 40 per cent sodium and 60 per cent chloride.The conversion of different units for sodium and salt is as follows: 1 g of sodium = 2.5 g of salt, 1 mmol of sodium = 23 mg of sodium, 1 g of salt = 0.4 g of sodium, and 1 g of salt = 17 mmol of sodium. Salt is the major source of sodium in the diet (≈ 90 per cent).  </span></div> <center style="height: 0px; margin: auto; overflow: hidden; width: auto;"> <div style="padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: left;"> </div> <div id="ebzNative"> </div> </center> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Types of salt</strong></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Not all salts are created equal. Natural salt contains 84 percent sodium chloride, and 16 percent naturally-occurring trace minerals, including silicon, phosphorous and vanadium. Processed (table) salt, on the other hand, contains 97.5 per cent sodium chloride and the rest is man-made chemicals, such as moisture absorbents and flow agents. These are dangerous chemicals like ferrocyanide and aluminosilicate. A small amount of iodine or vitamin A may also be added.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Based on this fact, some researchers found that probably it is the excess consumption of processed salt that causes hypertension not the natural salt. From all angles, it will be wrong for any health educator to “sentence” an individual to “no – salt diet”. There are functions of salt in the body.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <strong style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Functions of salt</strong></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As earlier stated, salt provides two elements – sodium and chloride – that are essential for life. Your body cannot make these elements on its own, so you must get them from your diet. Some of the many biological processes for which natural salt is crucial include: </span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Salt a major component of your blood plasma (fluid), lymphatic fluid, extracellular fluid, and even amniotic fluid (which is the fluid in the womb when you are pregnant). It carries nutrients into and out of your body cells, and helps maintain your acid-base balance (not allowing acid to be too much in the body). Salt helps to increase the glial cells in your brain, which are responsible for creative thinking and long-term planning.  Maintain and regulate blood pressure so that it will not be too low. Salt helps your brain to communicate with your muscles, so that you can move on demand via sodium-potassium in exchange.  Lastly it supports the function of your adrenal glands, which produce dozens of vital hormones. </span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Our readers, it is not my intention to make this discussion technical or difficult but the aim is for us to have basic understanding and make informed decision when it comes to effect of salt on blood pressure. I will stop here and continue next week. Till then, maintain a healthy heart.</span></div> </div> </div> </div>

What you should know about salt and hypertension

      Print  Email -  Dr Abiodun Adeoye  1 2 3 4 P ) Sustained raised blood pressure otherwise called hyperte...

Read more »