A simple way to lower blood pressure and strengthen heart health

Only a negligible fraction of people with high blood pressure resort to salt substitutes — even though it is one of the simplest and most accessible ways to reduce sodium intake and protect the heart.

This is reported by the American Heart Association (AHA).

Hypertension occurs when blood pressure in the vessels remains consistently elevated, dramatically increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and a whole range of other dangerous conditions. According to the AHA, nearly one in two American adults suffers from this condition. One of the main causes is excess sodium in the diet combined with a potassium deficiency. Salt substitutes address both problems at once: part of the sodium in them is replaced with potassium, which helps lower blood pressure.

"Fewer than 6% of adults use salt substitutes, even though it's an inexpensive and effective way to control blood pressure, especially for hard-to-treat hypertension," noted the study's lead author Yinyin Wei, a doctoral student and dietitian at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003 to 2020, covering more than 37,000 people. The results were discouraging: the use of salt substitutes remained consistently low over nearly two decades. The peak value — just 5.4% — was recorded in 2013–2014, and by 2020 the figure had dropped to as low as 2.5%.

Even among those for whom salt substitutes are medically recommended, only 2–5% used them. Moreover, those most likely to use them were patients already taking medication for hypertension.

"Even among people with uncontrolled or untreated high blood pressure, the vast majority continue to use regular salt," Wei emphasized.

Specialists describe the current situation as a serious missed opportunity. "This is a simple way to improve blood pressure readings that virtually no one is using," stated cardiologist Amit Khera.

Experts also remind that the bulk of sodium enters the body not from the salt shaker at home but from processed foods and restaurant meals. The American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium intake to 2,300 mg per day, and ideally to 1,500 mg.

However, salt substitutes are not suitable for everyone. Due to their high potassium content, they can pose a danger to people with kidney disease or those taking certain medications, so a doctor's consultation is necessary before using them.