One of the most tiresome jobs uk doctors continually find themselves doing is emphasising the health benefits of reducing salt in food. Now a creditable organisation has become prominent in the fight to lower salt in food - encouraging better labelling of food by manufacturers and supermarkets such as the CO-OP and promoting using fresh ingredients without adding salt when cooking.
Medical staff can almost be heard breathing a sigh of releif as they put their stethoscope to their ears when performing routine blood pressure checks - at last - a reference to reinforce their health message.
A team of health care specialists formed Consensus Action on Salt & Health - cash - and includes cardiologists who are also involved with www.bpassoc.org.uk
This organisation has rallied to the calls for reduced salt in food and is able to offer evidence of the effect a diet high in salt can have on blood pressure.
Earlier this year (2008) it promoted a Salt Awareness Week and the reported commitment of leading food producers and sellers such as Pizza Hut, McCain, Walkers, M&S and Heinz to begin reducing salt in the food is a triumphant step forward.
"Many people believe that they are not at risk if they don't add salt to food when cooking or at the table" reported a leading health awareness website "however blood pressure readings with my trusty littmann cardiology stethoscope reveals the truth about the impact of hidden salt in food".
Blood Pressure Measured Whilst Playing Wii Games
Blood Pressure Measured Whilst Playing Wii Games
First there was Wii sport - the video game that had us all waving arms around "playing" on a pretend tennis court or boxing rings. Then followed Wii Fit - an imaginative way to sell video games for the Nintendo Wii.Now there are reports of patents being filed for a Wii game accessory that will allow players to monitor their health whilst playing Wii Fit. The idea - a brainwave of Kent Hsu - is to add on a wrist blood pressure monitor band to the Wii controller that will measure blood pressure, pulse rate and temperature. Gimmick it may be but as one commenter said "I don't think the idea is Wii Fit will make people fit - but it will succeed in making them aware of their body and health. This is merely an advance on using existing technologies that encourage regular monitoring of blood pressure - like the novelty gift of a blood pressure monitor in pants without the need for a stethoscope or visiting the Doctor's surgery
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