- Less than one of 20 adults with high blood pressure use salt substitutes to cut sodium.
- Uncontrolled blood pressure can damage your heart, brain and kidneys over time.
- Salance substitute products are easy to find in shops, but remain a non -used tool for BP control
Salance products may be an easy way to reduce sodium, but a new study shows that the Americans rarely use them.
The results presented in the hypertension -scientific sessions of the American Heart Association raise questions about why such a simple food -WAP remains unusual -and whether relatives of health professions should speak more often with patients.
High blood pressure or high blood pressure is one of the most common health problems in the USA. Almost half of US -growing – approximately 120 million people – have the condition. Hypertension is defined as blood pressure over 130/80 mm HG or the use of medication for control.
Despite the availability of medication and changes in lifestyle, less than every fourth adult with high blood pressure has their blood pressure under control. This gap indicates the need for practical and everyday tools with which people can manage the disease. Since the limitation of sodium is a well -known strategy, the researchers have found how often the Americans make salt spaces.
How was the study carried out?
The researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (Nhanes), a long-term program that pursues the health and eating habits of US-growing people. For this study, they checked the answers of more than 37,000 people collected between 2003 and 2020. The participants were asked what type of salt they used, with answers that were divided into three categories: ordinary salt (such as iodine, sea or kosher), a salt replacement (including calisium-enriched products) or no salt consumption.
The main focus was on people with high blood pressure, whereby additional analyzes were carried out in adults that were considered justified for the use of salt substitutes – which with healthy kidney function and no medication or nutritional supplements that influence the potassium level. The researchers also examined how often the participants had eaten in restaurants in order to see whether this influenced their probability to use a salary.
What did the study find?
Overall, the use of salt spare was rare. It reached a maximum of 5.4%in 2013 to 2014, but ran to only 2.5%in early 2020 when data acquisition was stopped due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
Even in adults who were justified to use salt substitutes – those with normal kidney function and not taking medication that affect potassium – the numbers remained low and were sufficient between 2.3% and 5.1%.
Using was highest in people with high blood pressure who had medication and had their condition under control, at 3.6% to 10.5%. The rates were somewhat lower for those whose blood pressure (3.7% to 7.4%) remained uncontrolled despite the treatment (3.7% to 7.4%).
For comparison: The use of the salt spare was rarely 5.6%in adults with untreated high blood pressure or with normal blood pressure.
The researchers also examined the eating habits. Adults who were issued three or several times a week seemed to use fewer salt spaces than those who rarely ended – but this difference disappeared when factors such as age, breed and ethnicity, education and insurance status were taken into account.
How does that apply to real life?
Salt substitutes are designed in such a way that they taste like table salt, but with less sodium. Many replace some or the entire sodium chloride with potassium chloride, which can help reduce blood pressure by reducing both sodium and potassium reduction. They are sold in most grocery stores and for many people they can be an easy way to season food at home and at the same time support heart health.
But salt spare products are not for everyone – people with kidney diseases or those who take certain medication must be careful because too much potassium can be harmful. For those who are not sure, it is best to explore with a medical specialist first.
Even if a salary is not correct, there are many other ways to reduce sodium without affecting the taste. Cooking with fresh or dried herbs, spices such as cumin or paprika, citrus juice and shell, garlic, onion, vinegar or salt -free spice mixtures is everything to give your meals floating. These small changes in the kitchen can cause a sensible difference in blood pressure control over time.
Our expert
The study underlines how rarely salt substitutes that can help to treat high blood pressure are used in the USA, although control of blood pressure is the key to reducing risk for heart disease, stroke and kidney problems. Since most of the sodium in the US nutrition comes from packaging and restaurants from the restaurant, the performance is more than just eliminating the salt shaker. Salt processes can help some people, but with house food, careful reading and advice with a health service provider offer a stronger path to healthier blood pressure.
