Americans with High Blood Pressure on the rise

The proportion of Americans reporting they have high blood pressure rose nearly 10 percent from 2005 to 2009.  HBP affects nearly one-third of Americans, according to researchers at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

What is really disconcerting is that only half the people who have high blood pressure are getting treated. Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to negative health consequences like heart attacks and strokes."

The report was published in the April 5 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Wide variations existed by state in terms of how many people have HBP. Disparities were also seen in age, sex, education levels and race and ethnicity. It was significantly higher among seniors, men, blacks and those with less than a high school education compared to younger people, women, Asians and people with higher levels of education, the researchers found.