Most Americans over the age of twenty should limit the amount of salt they consume daily to 1,500 milligrams to prevent and reduce high blood pressure, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on its journal Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report.

 

High blood pressure (HBP), also called hypertension, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular issues such as heart attack and stroke. The medical condition occurs when a person’s blood pressure is chronically elevated. An estimated 73 million people in the United States aged 20 and older have hypertension. In 2004, HBP killed more than 54,700 Americans. About 30 percent of sufferers are unaware of their condition, according to the American Heart Association.

 

The recommended daily intake of salt is no more than 2,300 milligrams a day in health adults – about one teaspoon, according to current dietary guidelines.

 

About 69 percent of US adults need to reduce their daily intake of salt because their age, race or medical condition, which puts them at risk of heart disease or stroke, according to the CDC report. These people should consume no more than 1,500 mg daily and not 3,436 mg as they are currently consuming.

 

“It's important for people to eat less salt. People who adopt a heart healthy eating pattern that includes a diet low in sodium and rich in potassium and calcium can improve their blood pressure. Reducing sodium intake can prevent or delay increases in blood pressure for everyone. People need to know their recommended daily sodium limit and take action to reduce sodium intake,” Dr. Darwin R. Labarthe, director of the CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, said.