They might be able to avoid taking any drugs, or reduce their dose of blood pressure medication by restricting sodium consumption. Moderating salt intake is wise for people with normal blood pressure too, because many Americans are at risk for hypertension. Anything you can do to reduce the likelihood of developing hypertension is worthwhile. Many of us consume two to three times that much. Your body needs about half a gram daily to help maintain the amount of fluid in your body.
Some people are clearly more sensitive to the effects of salt on their blood pressure than others.
Tests for salt sensitivity are available, but in general they are not very practical. Typically the tests involve collecting urine specimens over the course of a day, followed by monitoring blood pressure changes in response to a sodium-restricted diet. For now, your best bet is to go light on the salt. Begin by browsing the food labels at the grocery store. You will be surprised how high the sodium level is in the soup department.