What do you know about high blood pressure? Are you one of the more than 48% of American adults who have high blood pressure? Here are the facts about high blood pressure in America from the CDC:

High blood pressure is common in the United States and increases the risk for heart disease and stroke. Learn more about the definition of blood pressure.

• Having high blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States.
• In 2024, high blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of 680,179 deaths in the United States1.
• Nearly half of adults have high blood pressure (48.1%, 119.9 million). This is defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than 130 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure greater than 80 mm Hg or are taking medication for high blood pressure2.
• About 1 in 4 adults with high blood pressure has their blood pressure under control (22.5%, 27.0 million2.)
• About half of adults (45%) with uncontrolled high blood pressure have a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher. This includes 37 million U.S. adults2.
• About 34 million adults who may need blood pressure medicine according to the hypertension guidelines are not currently taking it. Nearly two out of three of these adults (19 million) have a blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher.
• Annual costs associated with high blood pressure were an estimated $219 billion in the United States in 20193.

So what can you do about it? The first step anyone can take toward managing high blood pressure is changing their lifestyle. Some simple changes the CDC recommends include:

• Get regular physical activity. Staying physically active is one of the best things you can do for your health. Physical activity helps keep your heart and blood vessels strong. It also can help you keep a healthy weight.
• Do not smoke. Smoking damages your blood vessels and greatly increases your risk of not only high blood pressure but also heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
• Eat healthy foods. Choosing healthy meal and snack options can help you avoid high blood pressure and its complications. Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Keep a healthy weight. Having overweight or obesity means your heart must work harder to pump blood and oxygen around the body. Staying at a healthy weight reduces the stress on your heart and reduces your risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Read more here.