Thirty percent of US public have hypertension, much of which is due to excessive sodium intake

Thirty percent of US public have hypertension, much of which is due to excessive sodium intake. One of the first studies to estimate the economic benefits of lowering sodium consumption among the US public has found that $18 billion in healthcare costs for hypertension could be saved every year if salt intake were reduced to the amount recommended by health officials. In addition, quality of life would be improved for millions of people, with a further potential saving of $32 billion annually. This study provides an important first step toward quantifying the benefits of reducing the intake of sodium by the American public. "These findings make a strong case that there's value in pursuing a population-based approach to reducing sodium intake among Americans." September/October 2009 issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.