High Blood Pressure in the United States
High blood pressure: a force to be reckoned
with
Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries.
When that force stays too high, it becomes a life-threatening
condition—high blood pressure (also called hypertension). It makes the
heart work too hard, hardens the walls of arteries, and can cause the brain to
hemorrhage or the kidneys to function poorly or not at all.
A blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher is
considered high. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg.
Who does high blood pressure impact?
- More than 72 million American adults — 1 in 3
— have high blood pressure
- Nearly 60 million Americans are over age 55 which
means they have a 90 percent likelihood of developing high blood pressure in
their lifetimes.
- African Americans are more likely to develop high
blood pressure than any other racial or ethnic group and tend to develop it
earlier and more severely than others.
- 20 million Americans have diabetes which increases
their chances of developing high blood pressure.
- 142 million American adults are overweight or obese
which increases their chances of developing high blood pressure.
Risky business
Anyone can develop high blood pressure. But these
factors increase the risk: being overweight or obese, being physically
inactive, high salt and sodium intake, low potassium intake (due to not eating
enough fruits and vegetables), excessive alcohol consumption, and diabetes.
Why should you care about high blood
pressure?
- High blood pressure can lead to numerous other
life-threatening conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney
failure, the #1, #3, and #9 causes of death in the United States.
- High blood pressure is a factor in 67 percent of
heart attacks in the United States.
- High blood pressure is a factor in 77 percent of
strokes—the #3 cause of death in the United States.
- High blood pressure precedes 74 percent of cases of
heart failure in the United States.
- High blood pressure is the second leading cause of
chronic kidney failure in the United States—responsible for 26 percent of
all cases.
- High blood pressure causes more visits to doctors
than any other condition—just a 10 percent decline in the number of visits
would save $450 million each year.
- High blood pressure affects
circulation—creating a higher risk for mental deterioration and
Alzheimer's.
- High blood pressure and its complications cost the
U.S. economy more than $100 billion each year.
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