Cardiovascular diseases are claiming the lives of 10,000 people every day in the WHO European Region, with men being more frequently affected than women. A recent report from WHO/Europe has highlighted the alarming levels of salt consumption and uncontrolled high blood pressure contributing to this health crisis.

In the European Region, a significant number of individuals are consuming excessive amounts of salt, leading to more than one in three adults aged 30–79 suffering from hypertension. This is a major concern as high salt intake is a key factor in raising blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.

The WHO/Europe report titled ‘Action on salt and hypertension’ emphasizes the need for a comprehensive strategy to reduce salt intake and enhance the detection and management of hypertension to safeguard public health.

Statistics reveal that cardiovascular diseases are the primary cause of disability and premature death in the European Region, accounting for over 42.5% of all annual fatalities, translating to 10,000 deaths daily. Men in the region are nearly 2.5 times more likely to succumb to CVDs compared to women, with a notable regional disparity.

Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, underscored the preventable nature of CVDs and hypertension, emphasizing the need for evidence-based interventions to curb the high mortality rates. Implementing targeted policies to reduce salt intake by 25% could potentially save around 900,000 lives from CVDs by 2030.

Alarmingly, almost all countries in the European Region (52 out of 53) exceed the WHO recommended maximum daily salt intake of 5g. Excessive salt consumption is identified as the primary driver of hypertension and subsequent deaths from heart-related conditions. Street food and processed foods are identified as significant contributors to high salt consumption.

Controlling the salt content in processed foods could have a positive impact on public health by reducing the prevalence of hypertension and associated cardiovascular diseases. High blood pressure remains a silent killer in the European Region, responsible for a significant proportion of deaths and disabilities.