The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology released updated guidelines for diagnosing and treating high blood pressure, also called hypertension, in late 2017. These most recent guidelines recommend that blood pressure should be treated when it is higher than 130/80, rather than the previous 140/90. Under these guidelines, it’s estimated that half of the U.S. population has high blood pressure.

High blood pressure, often referred to as the “silent killer,” often has no warning signs or symptoms.

Sodium is an essential mineral found in many of the foods we eat every day. And while some sodium is necessary for your body to function properly, high sodium intake can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke by elevating your blood pressure. Unfortunately, many Americans consume far more sodium than they need to, increasing the risk of serious illness.

Sodium, commonly consumed as sodium chloride (table salt), is often used interchangeably with salt,