High blood pressure is a common health concern, with 37% of Lucas County adults – and 62% of residents 65 and older – diagnosed with the condition that can lead to heart attack and stroke, according to the 2013/2014 Lucas County Community Health Assessment.
Among Lucas County’s other demographic groups, high blood pressure is especially a problem for some minorities. Nearly half of African American adults in Lucas County have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, while 44% of Hispanics have, according to the community health assessment.
One way to lower blood pressure is to reduce sodium intake. The average American adult eats more than 3,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day, more than double the recommended limit for most adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Don’t just adjust your salt shaker sprinkles in the kitchen, though. Only 11% of dietary sodium is added at the table and while cooking at home, and 12% occurs naturally in foods. The biggest culprit – accounting for 77% of the sodium Americans eat – comes from restaurant, prepackaged and processed foods, according to the CDC.
For more tips and information, see the infographic below and download this handout from the CDC. Healthy Lucas County also is collecting low-sodium recipes on one of its Pinterest boards.
