Paul Whelton from Tulane University: High Sodium Levels Contributing to Global Health Problems

The intake of sodium is becoming a greater problem across the world, but especially in the United States. While people for the most part are not adding sodium to the food themselves the processed foods they are eating contain more sodium than they did in the past.

Paul K. Whelton, MB, MD, MSc, from Tulane University discussed this growing problem during the American College of Cardiology's annual meeting in Chicago. Whelton discussed how the lowering of sodium can affect lower blood pressure and the lowering of the risk of cardiovascular disease. While high levels of sodium is an issue in this country Whelton noted that there are other countries where this is not an issue and patients are seen to be in better health as a result.