By Julia Musto

Copyright independent

Older adults should avoid high-sodium foods to prevent high blood pressure, which can lead to severe medical outcomes such as heart attacks or strokes.

Eating salty snacks like pretzels can increase blood pressure within hours by raising fluid in blood vessels and making the heart work harder.

Over 75 per cent of adults aged 65 and above experience high blood pressure, making dietary choices crucial for this demographic.

The average American consumes 3,400 milligrams of sodium daily, significantly exceeding the recommended 2,300 milligrams, with much of it hidden in processed foods.

Experts advise avoiding processed foods, opting for fresh produce, and checking nutrition labels for snacks with 200 milligrams of sodium or less per serving to improve heart health.