A recent study has revealed that sodium or salt present in drinking water plays a role in causing high blood pressure.
According to research by Florida State University, there is a link between high levels of salt in drinking water and the risk of developing high blood pressure, particularly among people living in coastal regions.
Researchers stated that their aim is not to alarm people, but to identify an environmental factor that is contributing to high blood pressure in many individuals. In the United States, most people already consume excessive amounts of salt, and additional sodium present in water further increases this intake.
In this regard, data from research reports involving 74,000 individuals from the United States, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Kenya, Australia, and several European countries was analyzed. Researchers found that individuals who consume water with higher salt content tend to have slightly higher blood pressure compared to others.
According to the study, the use of such saline or brackish water increases the risk of developing high blood pressure by up to 26 percent. This association is more prominent among people living in coastal areas. While the risk may not seem very high, even a slight increase in blood pressure can have negative effects on health.
More than 3 billion people worldwide live in coastal regions or nearby areas, where groundwater is often the primary source of drinking water and frequently contains higher levels of salt.
