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| credit : World Health Organization |
Eating too much salt can raise blood pressure, which can lead to a number of serious health problems. Some of the risks associated with high blood pressure include:
- Heart disease: High blood pressure can put extra stress on the heart, making it more likely to develop conditions such as heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.
- Kidney damage: High blood pressure can damage the kidneys, making them less able to filter waste products from the blood. This can lead to kidney disease and even kidney failure.
- Vision loss: High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in the eyes, leading to vision loss or blindness.
- Dementia: High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in the brain, increasing the risk of dementia and other cognitive decline.
- Aortic aneurysm: High blood pressure can cause the aorta, the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body, to weaken and bulge, which can be fatal if ruptured
- Sexual dysfunction: High blood pressure can also affect sexual function in men and women, leading to erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, and difficulty in reaching orgasm.
It is important to note that eating too much salt can also cause water retention, leading to puffiness and weight gain, and it can also disrupt the balance of minerals in the body, leading to muscle cramps and fatigue.