Kane County Health Department: It’s Time To #BreakUpWithSalt
As part of Illinois Sodium Reduction Week, March 12-18, public health agencies across the state are joining forces with the American Heart Association to raise awareness of the importance of lowering sodium in your diet with the “Break Up with Salt” campaign.
“Extensive Research has shown that too much sodium is related to high blood pressure, a primary risk factor for heart disease and stroke,” said Dr. Terry Mason, president of the Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium. “Through the ‘Break Up with Salt’ campaign, we hope to encourage people of all ages to make healthier food choices.”
According to the AHA, Americans consume an average 3,400 mg of sodium per day. A reduction to 1,500 mg per day could result in an estimated $26.2 billion in health care savings, and 500,000 to 1.2 million fewer deaths from cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years.
NIPHC and AHA are encouraging all Illinois residents, schools, hospitals, community and faith-based organizations — anyone with an interest in health living — to participate in Illinois Sodium Reduction Week activities on social media:
- Thunderclap — 10 a.m. Monday, March 12. Register now for the Thunderclap https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/68542-illinois-sodium-reduction-week to join us in broadcasting one unified message throughout Illinois about the benefits of reducing sodium.
- Facebook LIVE healthy cooking demo — 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 13. Hosted by Lake County Health Department, this half-hour presentation will show you how to make easy, delicious and healthy recipes from registered dietitians. Like, love, share, and post comments or questions during the event.
- Twitter Chat — 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 14. Led by the American Heart Association Chicago (@HeartChicago), experts will answer questions and share easy ways to cut sodium from your diet. Follow the conversation, ask questions or share information using the #BreakUpWithSalt hashtag.
- #BreakUpWithSalt video — 9 a.m. Thursday, March 15. Visit Facebook www.facebook.com/kanehealth and Twitter @KaneCoHealth to view, like and share a fun YouTube video featuring several county health departments using cliché breakup lines to break up with salt.
Keep the momentum going Friday, March 16 and all weekend long by creating your own #BreakUpWithSalt posts on your social media accounts.
More information about the benefits of reducing sodium for your heart health can be found by visiting https://sodiumbreakup.heart.org/ or kanehealth.com
Silent Killer
According to the American Heart Association, high levels of sodium in our blood stream contribute to high blood pressure, which is known as the “silent killer” because its symptoms are not always obvious:
It’s one of the major risk factors for heart disease, the No. 1 killer worldwide.- It’s the leading risk factor of women’s deaths in the U.S., and the second leading risk factor for death for men.
- One-third of American adults have high blood pressure. And 90 percent of American adults are expected to develop high blood pressure over their lifetimes.
- More than 40 percent of non-Hispanic black adults have high blood pressure. Not only is high blood pressure more prevalent in blacks than whites, but it also develops earlier in life.
SOURCE: Kane County Health Department
