A simple way to lower blood pressure and improve heart health has been named

Only a small fraction of people with high blood pressure use salt substitutes, even though it is a simple and accessible way to reduce sodium intake and improve heart health.

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

Hypertension develops when blood pressure in the vessels remains consistently elevated. This increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other diseases. According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of adults in the United States suffer from it. One of the key causes is considered to be excess sodium in the diet and insufficient potassium. Salt substitutes address this problem: part of the sodium in them is replaced with potassium, which helps lower blood pressure.

"Less than 6% of adults use salt substitutes, even though it is an inexpensive and effective way to control blood pressure, especially in cases of treatment-resistant hypertension," noted the lead author of the study, 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. It was found that the use of salt substitutes remained consistently low: the maximum was 5.4% in 2013–2014, and by 2020 the figure had dropped to 2.5%.

Even among people for whom such products are medically indicated, only 2–5% used them. Moreover, it was more common among patients already taking medications for hypertension.

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

At the same time, specialists call the situation a missed opportunity. "This is a simple way to improve blood pressure readings that is virtually unused," noted cardiologist Amit Khera.

Experts point out that most sodium comes 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 potassium content, they can be dangerous for people with kidney disease or those taking certain medications, so a doctor's consultation is necessary before using them.