00:00This is a surprisingly simple way to reduce blood pressure, but almost nobody does it.
00:05Even though using salt substitutes can significantly reduce blood pressure, few Americans use them.
00:11Researchers analyzed 20 years of national health data, finding usage peaked at just over 5% before dropping to 2.5% by 2020.
00:21This signifies a major missed opportunity for improving heart health.
00:24At the American Heart Association's Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025, research sessions focused on high blood pressure and its connection to kidney and cardiac disease, genetics, obesity, and stroke.
00:38Nearly half of adults have high blood pressure, a contributing factor to 664,470 U.S. deaths in 2023.
00:47It also costs the U.S. $131 billion annually.
00:52Replacing sodium with potassium in salt substitutes can mitigate this, according to data from 37,080 adults in the 2003-2020 National Health Survey.
01:03The researchers found that individuals who ate at restaurants or ordered takeout frequently were less likely to use salt substitutes.
01:11According to the lead author of the study, Yin Ying Wei, overall, less than 6% of all U.S. adults use salt substitutes, even though they are inexpensive and can be an effective strategy to help people control blood pressure, especially people with difficult-to-treat high blood pressure.
01:28Healthcare professionals can raise awareness about the safe use of salt substitutes by having conversations with their patients who have persistent or hard-to-manage high blood pressure.
01:37The study had several limitations. Information was self-reported, all types of substitutes were analyzed, and data did not capture usage amounts.
01:46The lead author noted, future research should explore why salt substitute use remains low by investigating potential barriers, such as taste acceptance, cost, and limited awareness among both patients and clinicians.
01:59These insights may help guide more targeted interventions.
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