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Vital Signs: Getting Blood Pressure Under Control: High Blood Pressure is Out of Control for Too Many Americans

A blood pressure cuff. Almost 67 million Americans have high blood pressure, and more than half of them do not have it under control. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the United States.

To learn what you can do to get your blood pressure under control, visit http://www.cdc.gov/features/vitalsigns/hypertension/.

To view the video "CDC Vital Signs: Getting Blood Pressure Under Control," visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOxQyO-Sw-g.

Key Messages

High blood pressure contributes to nearly 1,000 deaths per day and accounts for nearly $131 billion in direct healthcare costs each year.
Most people know they have high blood pressure, but it’s not under control. As many as 16 million report being on medication and seeing a doctor at least twice a year.
There are many opportunities to gain control of this serious public health problem, and using a team based approach can help.