Sodium and High Blood Pressure
Topic Overview
Eating a lot of sodium (salt) is linked with high blood pressure.
Reducing salt in the diet can prevent high blood pressure in those at risk for the disease and can help control high blood pressure in elderly people.
African Americans, older adults, and people with diabetes may benefit most from lowering their dietary sodium intake.
People who are more sensitive to sodium include:
- People with kidney disease.
- People of African descent.
- People with a family history of high blood pressure.
- People over age 50.
To learn more, see:
Last Revised: April 11, 2012
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Rhonda O'Brien, MS, RD, CDE - Certified Diabetes Educator
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