A study on salt’s impact on blood pressure showed that cutting 1 teaspoon from your diet can cause blood pressure issues. The online survey app Real Research revealed that 49.43% of the respondents were very aware, 37.28% were vaguely aware, and 13.28% were not sure about salt’s impact on blood pressure at all. There is a need for public awareness of salt’s impact on blood pressure.

Highlights:

  • 63.08% of the respondents are somewhat convinced that limiting sodium can further lower blood pressure for those already on medication
  • 62.30% knew that U.S. nutritional guidelines allow one teaspoon of salt for those over 14
  • 49.80% believe they’ll control sodium to manage blood pressure

Salt intake and high blood pressure

62.30% of the respondents knew that U.S nutritional guidelines allow for one teaspoon of salt for people over the age of 14.

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Figure 1: Awareness of U.S national guidelines about salt’s impact on blood pressure

Moreover, The American Heart Association recommends a diet with slightly more than half a teaspoon of sodium a day. 41.70% of the respondents said that they could live with this and 24.00% said they wouldn’t manage. 34.30% weren’t sure.

Salt’s Impact on Blood Pressure

63.08% of the respondents are somewhat convinced that limiting sodium can further lower blood pressure for those already on medication, and 21.75% are not convinced at all. 15.17% are extremely convinced.

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Figure 2: Are people sure sodium reduction lowers blood pressure for those on medication?

Health Risks of Too Much Salt Consumption

What do you know about salt’s impact on blood pressure? High blood pressure is often referred to as a ‘silent killer’  because there are no symptoms. 44.43% of the respondents are somewhat concerned about the potential health risks associated with high blood pressure and 40.72% are not concerned at all. 14.85% said they were extremely concerned.

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Figure 3: Concern about the potential health risks associated with high blood pressure

Furthermore, 49.80% of the respondents think they are somewhat likely to actively monitor and control their sodium intake to maintain or improve their blood pressure levels, and 23.98% say they are extremely likely. 21.90% think it is somewhat unlikely that they actively monitor their sodium intake, and 4.32% think it is extremely unlikely.

Methodology

Survey TitleSalt’s Impact on Blood Pressure
DurationNovember 15 – November 22, 2023
Number of Participants6,000
DemographicsMales and females, aged 21 to 99
Participating Countries Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia,… Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, China (Hong Kong) China (Macao), China (Taiwan), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greanada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Maluritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar [Burma], Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.