Almost 100% of Americans consume more than the amount of sodium recommended by the American Heart Association, with approximately 60% of Americans consuming more than double the recommended value (Whelton). Sodium consumption is a concern because it is the direct cause of hypertension, which leads to many of the top preventable diseases of the circulatory system (Schieb). In 2010 approximately 200,000 people in the U.S. died from hypertensive disorders including heart disease, stroke, and heart attack (Schieb).
Many risk factors for hypertension are personal factors, as the effects genetics and biology. Being a non-Hispanic black is a major risk factor for hypertension (Keenan). Research done by the Centers for Disease Control …show more content…
These surveys concluded that body image and time management are particularly important to college males (Common Student Concerns). These surveys also concluded that nutrition is not a primary concern of college males (Common Student Concerns). The concern with time management is a possible mechanism to explain the high percentage of college males that eat out or eat pre-packaged meals. Eating out is often cheaper, tastier, and faster than cooking meals, and with nutrition not being a main concern with there are really no downsides. When this is coupled with the fact that college males have a high concern for body image it puts them in a state of dangerous ignorance (Common Student Concerns). At that young of an age college males will most likely not experience the hypertensive effects of high sodium intake, but it does put them at a greater risk for the negative side effects of hypertension later in life. With an average consumption of 3,904 mg of sodium a day, they are likely already doing irreversible damage to their circulatory system …show more content…
As previously stated nutrition is not a primary concern in this demographic, but body image is (Common Student Concerns). Since nutrition is not a primary concern college age males are either unaware that high sodium consumption is even an issue or they are not engaged by the fact that it is. By making them aware and concerned about the issue, they are lead to make a decision. To make them aware and concerned it would be practical to play on the fact that body image is a major concern to them (Common Student Concerns). If college age males are shown that high sodium intake can have external effects on the body such as obesity and varicose veins in adulthood it will force them to at least think about the issue and whether or not they want to make a change in their own consumption