DEAR EDITOR:

As a member of the State Advocacy Committee for the American Heart Association, I have seen how heart disease and stroke touch nearly every family in our state. While many factors influence our cardiovascular health, one of the most significant — and often overlooked — is sodium intake.

Most people are surprised to learn that over 70% of the sodium we consume doesn’t come from the salt shaker on our table; it comes from processed and restaurant foods. Even “”healthy”-looking options can contain more than a full day’s worth of sodium in a single sitting. This is why House Bill 364 is such a critical piece of legislation.

Introduced by Reps. Munira Abdullahi and Tom Young, HB 364 would require chain restaurants to place a small warning icon next to menu items that contain more than half of the total recommended sodium limit for an entire day (1,150 mg).

This isn’t about telling people what they can’t eat; it’s about transparency. When consumers have the facts, they can make informed choices that protect their blood pressure and long-term heart health. High sodium is a leading driver of hypertension, a “silent killer” that increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

I want to thank Reps. Munira Abdullahi and Tom Young for their leadership on this

common-sense public health measure. I urge our Ohio General Assembly to pass HB 364 and give us the tools we need to lead longer, healthier lives.

DR. NICOLETTE POWE

Youngstown