Health authorities are pushing for policies to cut usage of salt in foodstuff especially bread, said an official.
The UAE is consuming up to seven grams of salt per day per person, that is two grams higher than that recommended internationally. High salt intake is the leading cause of hypertension that, in turn, leads to heart and kidney disease and stroke.
“We want to reduce salt intake gradually, especially in bread,” said Dr Nooshin Bazargani, cardiologist at Dubai Hospital and WHF board member.
She also urged women to know their numbers (cholesterol/BP) and take the disease seriously. “Women suffer from heart disease as much as men do,” she said. Quoting a study that covered seven regional countries, including Dubai, Dr Nooshin said that results showed doctors, too, did not take symptoms in women seriously. “Pain in women is less aggressive but deaths do occur,” she added.