Effects of Excess Sodium Infographic

9 out of 10 Americans consume too much sodium.

Where does it come from?

65% comes from supermarkets and convenience stores
25% comes from restaurants
10% comes from other sources
3,400 milligrams is the amount of sodium that the average American consumes.

1,500 milligrams or less is the amount recommended by the AHA for ideal heart health.

High Blood Pressure is the leading risk factor for death in WOMEN in the United States, contributing to nearly 200,000 female deaths each year. (That's more than five times the 42,000 annual deaths from breast cancer.)

77.9 million American Adults have high blood pressure.

Kids who have a high-sodium diet are twice as likely to develop high blood pressure as kids who have low-sodium diets.

Your Health

Excess levels of sodium/salt may put you at risk for:
High Blood Pressure
Stroke
Heart Failure
Osteoporosis
Stomach Cancer
Kidney Disease
Kidney Stones
Enlarged Heart Muscle
Headaches

Your Appearance

Excess levels of sodium may cause:

Increased Water Retention, Leading to:

Puffiness
Bloating
Weight Gain

heart.org/sodium

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