If you have high blood pressure, your doctor can give you instructions for controlling it. These may include diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes, as well as prescription medication. Losing weight, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, exercising and decreasing the amount of stress in your life can help lower your blood pressure. Your doctor will probably tell you to cut back on salt. Medical researchers aren't sure why, but salt increases blood pressure in some people.
Excessive salt causes the body to retain water and adds extra work for the heart.
You can trim your salt intake in several simple ways. Take the salt shaker off your dinner table. Choose fresh foods instead of processed ones containing lots of salts and preservatives. Stay away from chips, pretzels, packaged soups, lunch meats, canned hams and hot dogs.