The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on Vietnam to take actionagainst salt overuse in a bid to cut the number of people experiencingheart disease and stroke and save lives.

The message was made on the occasion of World Heart Day (September 29).

Accordingto preliminary survey conducted by the National Nutrition Institute,Vietnam’s average salt consumption among people aged 26-64 ranges from12-15 grams per person per day, while the recommended level is less than5 grams. Nearly 60 percent has a salt intake twice as high as the dailyrecommendation.

WHO warns that consuming too much salt can lead(or contribute) to high blood pressure, and greatly increase the risk ofcardiovascular diseases and stroke.

According to a national survey, prevalence of hypertension in adults in Vietnam aged 25 and older is 25.1 percent.

WHO estimates that cardiovascular diseases are leading killer in Vietnam, responsible for 33 percent of total deaths.

WHOrecommended that children aged 2 to 15 years consume even less saltthan the recommended less than 5 grams per day to adjust for their everyrequirements for growth.

A study by the National NutritionInstitute showed that the daily sodium intake in Vietnam comes mainlyfrom condiments added during food preparation, cooking and additionalseasoning at the table (81 percent), from processed foods (11.6 percent)and from natural foods (7.4 percent).

Seasoning and fish sauce are the main sources of sodium intake on a daily basis, the study said.-VNA