Six times more likely to develop congestive heart failure. Three times more likely to have a heart attack. If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, it's extremely important that you follow your doctor's treatment guidelines to the letter. These guidelines include keeping your diet low in fat, reducing your salt intake, quitting smoking, and limiting your alcohol consumption. Some recent research suggests that constant stress and pressure may predispose some men to continually elevated blood pressure later in life.
Excessive salt can make high blood pressure worse.
It causes water retention, which makes your heart work harder than it has to. On average, Americans consume 4,000 to 6,000 milligrams of sodium daily. Your primary care physician can tell you how often. Avoid excessive salt intake. Be moderate in your drinking.