Who is affected by high blood pressure
An estimated 50 million adults in the United States (1 in 4) have high blood pressure.1
The number of people who have high blood pressure increases with age in both men and women. Ninety percent of people who, at age 55, do not have hypertension will eventually develop it.2
Adult African Americans have a higher prevalence of high blood pressure than Caucasian (white) adults.1
Citations
Rudd P, Osterberg LG (2002). Hypertension: Context, pathophysiology, and management. In EJ Topol, ed., Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, pp. 91–122. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (2003). Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure JNC Express (NIH Publication No. 03–5233). Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
| Author | Robin Parks, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Ruth Schneider, MPH, RD - Diet and Nutrition |
| Last Updated | April 24, 2007 |
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