If you are yet to worry about your salt consumption, you might want to start. About 90% of Americans are practically gobbling down more sodium than necessary, and the creepy part? They aren’t even aware of it. "So what?" - you may smirk, especially if you're one of the salt-overindulgers who seem to evade any alarming symptoms. However, this 'no biggie' habit can stealthily creep up, causing lasting damages such as hypertension, a condition that afflicts 50% of US adults.

But what if you're left in the dark about your sodium overkill? Your body is a tattle-tale and can reveal telltale signs like constant thirst, fatigue, headaches, heart palpitations, and puffiness. By shoving the salt shaker away and reining in sodium-packed processed foods, you'll be better armed to manage blood pressure, lower heart disease risk and dodge other potential health circus acts.

Sodium isn’t the grim reaper in disguise though. It’s an essential nutrient needed in just-right proportions to help the body maintain a balance of fluids inside and outside cells. Crossing the line and eating too much salt can tip this balance, leading to dehydration, which prompts thirst and other symptoms such as dry skin and mouth, and sunken eyes.

Then there are the headaches, the dull, "squeezing" kind, casually gracing those who consistently overindulge in sodium. High blood pressure doesn't usually cause such headaches, unless it becomes emergency-level, causing severe headaches and more worrisome symptoms such as vomiting, chest pain, and seizures. The good news? In 2016, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health showed that a low-sodium diet helped significantly reduce chronic headaches in hypertensive adults.

Hypernatremia, a condition of abnormally high blood sodium levels marked by weakness and fatigue, can tamper with fluid levels in the brain and muscles, causing noticeable symptoms. And forget the general misconception that high sodium alone can cause this.

Excessive amounts of sodium in the bloodstream can act like a toddler with a crayon, coloring outside the lines of normal heart functions, leading to palpitations. If coupled with nausea, dizziness, chest pains, or fainting, it's high time you reassess your sodium intake.

One of the main whistleblowers of high sodium intake is bloating and swelling due to fluid retention. This can manifest in facial puffiness, especially around the eyes, and in extreme cases of heart, liver, or kidney disease, it can result in fluid overload in the lower legs, ankles, and feet or peripheral edema.

Here's a curveball for you - a high-sodium diet can cause gastrointestinal bloating and gas, leading to an increased risk of gas-emitting sleepovers by over 1.2 times compared to a sodium-controlled diet. Not to mention, it's a crucial factor in transient weight gain.

Excessive fluid retention, hypertension, and other high sodium intake symptoms can barge into your peaceful slumber causing interruptions, sleep apnea, and even a mess with your circadian rhythm.

The paramount concern, however, is the repercussion of too much salt on your blood pressure and heart, making the heart work overtime. With time, this can cause your heart to thicken and enlarge, making way for several secondary conditions.

Fear not; you're not doomed to a lifetime of bland meals. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans published by the Department of Health and Human Services encourages adults to keep sodium intake below 2,300 milligrams per day. Merely replacing restaurant dishes and processed foods, which form 70% of sodium in a typical American diet, with homemade versions, drinking ample water, and regular exercise, can significantly cut back on your sodium stealth attack while still savoring a flavorful life.