5. Why is high blood pressure on the rise?
The culprit could be salty diets. Americans have a salt problem, Dr. Giaimo says. And that doesn’t necessarily mean table salt. “The challenge in the U.S., in particular, is that many of the processed foods we buy have tons of salt in them,” he says. This excess sodium leads to excess fluid and volume in the blood vessels, which causes blood pressure to rise. Beyond that, a high-sodium diet combined with a sedentary lifestyle is likely also contributing to the obesity epidemic, and the extra weight can also raise blood pressure, he adds.
6. Should I limit my salt intake?
