Current:Home > reviewsHigh blood pressure? Reducing salt in your diet may be as effective as a common drug, study finds -FundPrime
High blood pressure? Reducing salt in your diet may be as effective as a common drug, study finds
Indexbit Exchange View
Date:2025-04-10 21:42:54
Want to lower your blood pressure? Cutting back on salt in your diet could help do just that — and according to new research, for many people it may be as effective as taking a common blood pressure medication.
The study, published Saturday in JAMA, found that reducing sodium consumption significantly lowered blood pressure in the majority of participants.
Researchers examined 213 participants aged 50 to 75 on their usual diets as well as high- and low-sodium diets. The high-sodium diets contained approximately 2200 mg of added sodium daily, and low-sodium diets contained about 500 mg of sodium daily. The group included a mix of people with and without existing blood pressure issues.
After one week of a low-sodium diet, they saw an average 8 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure (the first number in the reading) compared to a high-sodium diet, and a 6 mm Hg reduction compared to a normal diet. The researchers noted that's comparable to the average benefits of a commonly prescribed drug for the condition, hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg dose).
The low-sodium diet involved reducing salt intake by a median amount of about 1 teaspoon per day.
"The low-sodium diet lowered systolic blood pressure in nearly 75% of individuals compared with the high-sodium diet," the authors wrote, adding that the results were seen "independent of hypertension status and antihypertensive medication use, were generally consistent across subgroups, and did not result in excess adverse events."
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is known as a "silent killer" and can increase a person's risk of heart attack, stroke, chronic kidney disease and other serious conditions. Hypertension contributed to more than 691,000 deaths in the United States in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nearly half of adults have hypertension, according to the CDC — defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than 130, or a diastolic blood pressure greater than 80. And only about 1 in 4 adults with hypertension have it under control, the agency estimates.
Salt isn't the only thing in our diets that may have an effect on blood pressure.
Earlier this year, research published in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension found routinely drinking alcohol — as little as one drink a day — is associated with an increase in blood pressure readings, even in adults without hypertension.
- Tips for lowering your blood pressure, which may also reduce your risk of dementia
- High blood pressure threatens the aging brain, study finds
veryGood! (759)
Related
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- Lawyer for alleged victim of Dani Alves files legal complaint after video circulates on social media
- A push to expand Medicaid has Kansas governor embracing politics and cutting against her brand
- Terminally ill Connecticut woman ends her life in Vermont
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- Nashville is reassigning 10 officers following the leak of a school shooter’s writings, police say
- The Excerpt podcast: Orcas are sinking boats. What gives?
- Wisconsin governor who called for marijuana legalization says he’ll back limited GOP proposal
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- Church says priest who married teen has been defrocked
Ranking
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- Mississippi sheriff's deputy fatally shot during traffic stop; suspect killed by police after chase across 3 counties
- AP Week in Pictures: Global | Dec.29-January 5, 2024
- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine bans gender-affirming surgeries for transgender youth
- Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
- America Ferrera Reveals How Kerry Washington Helped Her During Postpartum
- Daniel Levy on Netflix's 'Good Grief,' his bad habits and the 'Barbie' role that got away
- Camila and Matthew McConaughey's Daughter Vida Is Mom's Mini-Me in Sweet Birthday Photos
Recommendation
Bodycam footage shows high
Man who lunged at judge in court reportedly said he wanted to kill her
House Republicans ready contempt of Congress charges against Hunter Biden for defying a subpoena
Vanderpump Rules' Ariana Madix Sues Ex Tom Sandoval Over Shared House
This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
Stiffer penalties for fentanyl dealers, teacher raises among West Virginia legislative priorities
Golden Wedding recap: Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist are married! See what made us tear up.
WIC helps moms and kids eat. But finding what you need isn’t always easy