I was taught that salt (sodium) unmasks hypertension, but doesn't cause hypertension. In other words, sodium is the tool that the body's regulatory systems use

I was taught that salt (sodium) unmasks hypertension, but doesn't cause hypertension. In other words, sodium is the tool that the body's regulatory systems use when trying to raise blood pressure. So a healthy younger person can probably not worry about sodium intake. But for an older person with congestive heart failure, a bag of potato chips might end them up in the hospital.