LIFESTYLE

HEALTHSTOP THE n ECZEMA – A CURE AT LAST? n SHUT-EYE SECRETS

WHAT IS A AND HOW DOES HIGH the population have raised or high blood CAUSE ONE? pressure, but less than half of them are ‘A stroke is better described as a “brain aware they are putting their health at risk,’ attack” and occurs when the oxygen supply explains Hannah. ‘As such, the Government to the brain is significantly reduced, resulting recommends that everyone reduces their in a loss or reduction of brain function. The salt intake. Current recommendations state SALT effect of stroke can be very sudden and that we should be eating less than six grams serious,’ says Hannah Brinsden, Nutritionist at per day, about a teaspoon – and children YOURSELF Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH), should eat a lot less. However, the current a specialist group concerned about the average intake is nearly nine grams, so it’s health effects of salt. ‘High blood pressure is very important that everyone reduces their the main cause of and a major cause salt intake as much as possible.’ of heart attacks and heart failures; the most common causes of death and illness in the WHERE ARE DANGER AREAS FOR SALT world. High blood pressure damages blood CONSUMPTION? NutritionistOUT Hannah Brinsden tells vessel walls, causing them to thicken or ‘About three-quarters of the salt in our diet is weaken. This results in a blockage or a bleed contained in everyday foods, such as bread, Louise Ramsay how reducing salt of a blood vessel, which leads to strokes.’ cheese, soup, sauces and processed meats,’ intake by just a gram per day can reduce says Hannah. ‘Surprisingly, most of the salt we the risk of having a stroke, preventing HOW DOES SALT RAISE BLOOD PRESSURE? eat (almost 20 per cent) is from bread. Meals ‘There is strong evidence that links high salt from restaurants, fast-food outlets and cafés around 2400 deaths a year in the UK intake to high blood pressure,’ says Hannah. can also contain quite high salt levels. Some ‘ and (which make up salt) takeaways contain more than the maximum are essential for survival, but the body only daily recommendation in one meal. The needs less than one gram per day and yet amount of salt can quickly add up.’ we’re eating nearly nine grams a day. Your kidneys work to remove unwanted fluid HOW CAN WE REDUCE SALT IN OUR DIET? SALT AWARENESS from your body in a process which relies on ‘Just because most of the salt we eat is WEEK, 26 MARCH – the balance between sodium and . already in the processed foods that we buy The long-term high intake of sodium (from doesn’t mean salt intake can’t be reduced’ 1 APRIL dietary salt) alters this balance, reducing says Hannah. ‘When shopping, check labels the function of the kidneys. This results in to make sure you are choosing lower salt increased retention, which makes it options – particularly for items you buy harder for the heart to pump blood around regularly such as bread, cereal and cheese. the body and so putting up blood pressure. Where available, look for salt labels that are However, other factors such as low fruit ‘green’ or ‘amber’, and avoid products that and vegetable consumption, obesity, are ‘red’. Although it may seem daunting, lack of exercise and stress can you only need to find the lower-salt options also raise blood pressure. once and then you can just keep on buying Fruit and vegetables that product. When cooking at home try not are a great source to add any salt – other flavours you can use of potassium, include black pepper, herbs, chilli and lemon which can help juice. And when you’re out, ask for less salt to counteract the be added to dishes if possible.’

negative effects Illustration: Chris Madden. Getty, iStockphoto of sodium.’ IS ROCK SALT A HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVE? ‘No. It is often believed that rock salt, sea HOW MUCH salt and other expensive gourmet SALT SHOULD are healthier than table salt,’ says Hannah. WE EAT? ‘However, a recent survey conducted by ‘Blood pressure CASH showed that they actually contain the is known as the same amount of sodium as regular table salt. ‘silent killer’ So save yourself some money and try not to because over add any salt to your cooking or to your plate two thirds of and you will soon get used to it.’ 94

LIFESTYLE

SLEEP – WHO NEEDS IT? Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher, famously, could survive on just four hours sleep a night – and now scientists may have found our health expert on… out why. Researchers at Ludwig WORLD KIDNEY Maximilians University in Munich

found that people with one version DAY, 8 MARCH The information in these pages is intended as general advice only. you If or a family have member any medical concerns, please contact your GP or medic of a gene called ABCC9 slept for much shorter periods of time than MEDICAL ADVISER ROBERT those with another variant. HANGARTNER, from CSMA Club Approved Partner CS Healthcare, on kidney care We’re all aware high blood KEEP THE pressure is bad for your heart, ASPIRIN FOR but did you know that it can HEADACHES affect your kidneys too? High blood pressure is, in fact, one of It ‘s time to ditch the daily aspirin – the few symptoms, and causes, the chances are it won’t prevent a of kidney disease – which makes heart attack or stroke. Researchers it extra important to get your at University Medical Center Utrecht blood pressure checked. Kidney in The Netherlands found that only disease is particularly dangerous 10 per cent of women achieved because symptoms don’t more than a one-per cent risk show up until the damage is reduction for . done, leaving dialysis or kidney Two other studies found the same transplant the only treatment results in women and men. options. When blood pressure is high, the heart has to work ECZEMA harder, which can damage blood vessels, including those in the kidneys. This means they BREAKTHROUGH may be unable to remove excess fluid from the body, further Eczema leaves skin itchy, dry, cracked and red – raising blood pressure. So don’t put it off – get your blood and, currently, it’s incurable. But according to pressure tested – and keep your exciting new research, the condition could be a kidneys in tip-top condition. thing of the past. Scientists at Stockholm University have discovered a way to kill a strain of yeast thought To find out more, visit worldkidneyday.co.uk to set the condition off, without affecting healthy cells. Eczema, which affects 25,000 Britons, is NEW CANCER caused by a common skin yeast called malassezia RISK sympodialis. Studying the effects that 21 peptides Are you a bloke who likes your steak (natural antibiotics) had on the yeast, researchers well done? Watch out; scientists discovered that six successfully destroyed it. from the University of California Lead researcher Tina Holm explains: ‘The are warning that it could raise your peptides were found to be toxic to the yeast at chance of developing the most virulent form of prostate cancer low concentrations whilst sparing human cells. – the most common cancer in UK Although further research is needed, we hope that men. During the study, researchers these peptides in the future can be used to ease the found that men who ate well-done symptoms of patients suffering from atopic eczema burgers had around twice the risk – the most common form of the condition – and of developing aggressive prostate cancer in comparison to men significantly increase their quality of life.’ who did not eat meat at all, or ate it rare or medium-done. 96 97