CDC: Third of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, only half have it under control

[cali]

Sixty-seven million Americans - about one-third of the country - have high blood pressure, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report released Tuesday.

However, only half of them have are actively working to control it.

About 36 million Americans aren't taking medication or other measures to keep their blood pressure at healthy levels.

"We have to roll up our sleeves and make high blood pressure control a priority every day, with every patient at every doctor's visit," CDC director Dr. Thomas Frieden said in a teleconference with TIME. "We can use the whole health-care team. We know that when pharmacists, nurse practitioners, allied health workers, office staff are all involved in care, we can see rapid and dramatic improvements in blood pressure control."

High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition where a person has a systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 90 mmHg, according to the CDC. Left untreated, it is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. People with high blood pressure are four times more likely to die from a stroke and three times more likely to die from heart disease. The disease contributes to nearly 1,000 deaths per day and about $131 billion in direct healthcare costs annually.

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http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57506364-10391704/cdc-third-of-u.s-adults-have-high-blood-pressure-only-half-have-it-under-control/

[niyad]

1. so. . .the drug companies are not making enough money from blood pressure meds??

seriously, I know that high blood pressure is a very real problem, but that was the first thought that came to mind. .

[still_one]

3. and regardless of your disdain for drug companies, hypertensive medications have saved tens of

thousands of lives and end organ damage

[niyad]

5. I did not say the meds have not, and are not, doing good. I merely pointed out that that was my

first thought.

and nothing wrong with having disdain for those blood-sucking money grubbers, or questioning their motives.

[still_one]

6. ok I understand /nt

[loli phabay]

4. th the drug companies are welcome to my money when it comes to medications

Id no sooner begrudge them that than the guy who sells me a fire extinguisher or the mechanic who fixes my brakes.

[still_one]

2. actually the 140/90 is pre-hypertension. If you have other conditions such as diabetes or kidney

issues they want it at 12/80 or less if possible

[Whovian]

7. High Blood pressure here.

Can't afford the meds prescribed though even with insurance. It comes to a question of food, electricity and keeping a roof over my head. Immediate needs preclude the purchase of drugs. Congenital heart failure as well and don't really have the funds for the monthly visits to my cardio guy.

I've kind of accepted I'm gonna die earlier than people who have more wealth than me. Sucks, but that's the America we live in today. The ACA could have gone further for my tastes.

[niyad]

8. welcome to DU

[HockeyMom]

9. Once on meds, always on meds?

My husband has been taking them for over 20 years. It will never go down by itself? Or they don't want it to be "cured" so the person will be taking meds, and making them money, for the rest of their life?

That doesn't sound right to me.

[Whovian]

10. I wish there was more research on this.

Reducing intake of salt, cutting back on (gasp) bacon, canned soups and other high sodium foods will help a lot. Another gasp is exercise. I believe diet in the form of only 1500 mg of sodium a day plus exercise can do a lot. Plus cutting back on smoking and drinking as well.

Not a Doc here, but those things have helped me.

[Avalux]

11. One cannot avoid the link to obesity in discussing high BP.

In those cases, where obesity is the contributing factor, losing weight and eating healthier would lower BP and meds wouldn't be needed. There are a disturbing number of children and adolescents with high blood pressure due to obesity:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/10/AR2007091001349.html

What kind of life will these kids have if they aren't taught to live healthy lifestyles?

Medication should be the last resort to control BP, not the answer. Unfortunately our culture demands a quick fix, while we continue to stuff ourselves with fast food and sit on our asses.