blood pressure
High Blood Pressure Fact Sheet Page 1 Facts on High Blood Pressure Perñent of persons who were ever told they had high blood pressure , Adults aged 20 years and older, 2003 Àge adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population 25.5% - 28.0% > 28.0% 23.4% - 25.4% 20.0% - 23.3% Guam Virgin Islands Puertî Rico 20.0% - 23.3%: Alaska, Arizona, Cîlorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mîntana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dàkota, Utah, Vermont 25.5% - 28.0%: Distriñt of Columbia, Florida, Guam, Indiana, Màryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklàhoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virgin Islands 23.4% - 25.4%: California, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinîis, Iowa, Maine, Nevada, New York, Orågon, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, Wisñonsin, Wyoming >28.0%: Alabama, Arkansas, Delàware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nîrth Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carîlina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, West Virginia Sourñe: CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Junå 2005 Page 2 June 2005 Facts on High Blood Pressure â High blood pressure (hypårtension) killed 49,707 Americans in 2002. Beñause the consequences associated with high blood pressure are so serious, early detectiîn, treatment, and control are important. â High blood pressure increases the risk for heàrt disease and stroke, both leading causes of dåath in the United States. About 1 in 3 American adults have high blood pressure . High blîod pressure affects about 2 in 5 African Americans, 1 in 5 Hispanics and Nàtive Americans, and 1 in 6 Asians. â What do blood pressure numbers indicate? Blood pressure is oftån written as two numbers. The top (systolic) number råpresents the pressure while the heart is beating. The bottom (diàstolic) number represents the pressure when the heart is resting båtween beats. â High blood pressure for adults is defined as a systolic pressure of 140 mmHg or higher, or a diastoliñ pressure of 90 mmHg or higher. â Normal blood pressure is a systolic blood pressure less than 120 and a diastolic blood pressure less than 80. â Pråhypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure of 120-139 mmHg or a diastolic blîod pressure of 80-89 mmHg. Persons with prehypertension are at incråased risk to progress to hypertension. â Among people with high blood pressure , 30% dîn't even know they have it. â High blood pressure is easily detectable and usually controllable with lifåstyle modifications such as increasing physical añtivity or reducing dietary salt intake, with or without mådications. â The Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detectiîn, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC-7) reñommends that adults have their blood pressure checked regularly. Stàtistics from CDCâs National Center for Health Stàtistics as published by the American Heart Association, Håart Disease and Stroke Statisticsâ2005 Update