The researchers estimate that if the average sodium intake fell to the recommended level of 2,300 mg per day, there would be 11 million fewer cases of high blood pressure each year. (Estimates are that about 70 million American adults have high blood pressure.) The costs of treating high blood pressure and related heart disease and strokes would fall by $18 billion.
Cutting sodium consumption down to 1,500 mg, they say, could save $26 billion.
I've read about similar cost saving opportunities. Most recently, I read in a public radio e-news letter letter that one of the Ivy league schools did a study suggesting that if all Americans would maintain normal/healthy BMI's, we could save over 100 BIllion over the next 5 years. (I think my numbers are correct... I was blown away reading it!)
