Samuel Ntiamoah, the Deputy Country Director of International Medical Associates for Global Health Empowerment (IMAGHE), has advised the public to moderate the intake of highly salted foods like ‘koobi’.
According to him, sodium chloride, commonly known as table salt, is a major cause of hypertension in both young and old people.
Lamenting on a surge in hypertension cases in people below the age of 30 years, he advised the public to cut down on foods containing salt.
“For some people, right at the table, they want to add salt to the already cooked meal and start eating. These are things we need to be mindful of. They stress on the heart and the kidneys which work hand in hand. The kidneys are working hard to clean out the waste that is already in the system and we are busy bugging them with more,” he noted.
The health expert also indicated that processed foods, smoking, and alcoholic beverages, are contributing to the rise of blood pressure in young people.
“These days we have more of a sedentary lifestyle. The kind of food we eat, the things we engage in, and even our choices. You realize that almost every weekend, boys and girls are engaging in certain drugs. It’s bringing the age bracket very low. Gone are the days where when you hear of these things you think about 50 years plus. Aging is a factor but recently lifestyle has become the most prominent factor,” he said in an interview monitored by The Ghana Report on Joy Prime.
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Mr. Ntiamoah further encourages the public to look out for sodium content on the packaging of foods they buy and make sure that they stay within the required sodium intake range, which is about only 2 tablespoons per day.
He also advised the public to exercise regularly to reduce the risk of acquiring hypertension.