If you have high blood pressure, youre in good【C1】______. Hypertension affects 67 million Americans, including nearly two-thirds of people over age 60. But it isnt an inevitable part of the aging【C2】______Its better to think of it as【C3】______sodium poisoning. And, theres a way to prevent the problem—and to save many, many lives. A lifetime of【C4】______too much sodium (mostly in the form. of table salt) raises blood pressure, and high blood pressure kills and disables people by【C5】______strokes and heart attacks. In the United States, according to best estimates,【C6】______sodium is killing between 40,000 and 90,000 people and running up to $20 billion in medical costs a year. Americans on average【C7】______about 3,300 milligrams of sodium per day, but experts recommend less than 2,300 milligrams—and less than 1,500 milligrams for people over age 50, black people, or those who already have hypertension, diabetes or kidney disease, which【C8】______a majority of American adults. Either【C9】______is far below where most Americans are now. The reason that nearly everyone eats【C10】______too much sodium is that our food is loaded with it, and often where we dont【C11】______or expect it. Of course ham and canned soup are full of salt, but so are many foods that are【C12】______: A blueberry cake can have more than double the salt of a serving of potato chips.【C13】______healthy-sounding food can pack【C14】______sodium loads. Many restaurant main courses have far more sodium than is recommended for an【C15】______day. Doctors warn people with high blood pressure to go on a low-salt diet, but thats virtually impossible in todays world,【C16】______nearly 80 percent of the sodium that Americans eat comes in【C17】______and restaurant food. You cant take it out. And【C18】______everyone, not just people with hypertension【C19】______over food labels, should be taking in less sodium. The only way to prevent millions of Americans from developing high blood pressure is for companies and restaurants to stop loading up their food with sodium. Its not easy,【C20】______it isnt impossible either. 【C1】