New Delhi, Feb. 20 -- Many people are surprised when their blood pressure remains high despite cutting down on salt. They stop adding salt to food, avoid pickles and processed snacks, yet the numbers on the BP monitor barely move. According to Dr Suchismita Rajamanya, Lead Consultant and Head of Internal Medicine at Aster Whitefield Hospital, this is a common but often misunderstood situation.

Hypertension, she explains, is a complex condition influenced by far more than just visible salt intake.

One of the biggest reasons blood pressure does not respond to salt avoidance is hidden sodium in everyday foods. Packaged and processed items-including bread, biscuits, sauces, instant noodles, ready-to-eat meals and restaurant food-are major s...