John Elflein
Research expert covering health and health care
Hypertension in the U.S. - Statistics & Facts
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the deadliest health risk factor worldwide, contributing to more deaths than air pollution, smoking, and obesity. In 2021, it was estimated that almost 11 million deaths worldwide could be attributed to high blood pressure. Hypertension is often called the silent killer because it usually does not show any symptoms, and therefore often goes undetected, but greatly increases the risk of deadly conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 1.28 billion adults aged 30 to 79 have hypertension worldwide, with 46 percent unaware they have the condition.
How common is hypertension in the United States?
Hypertension is very common in the United States. In fact, in 2022 hypertension was the most common medical diagnosis recorded by primary care physicians, the most common emergency room diagnosis, and the leading therapy area by number of prescriptions. In 2021, around 30 percent of U.S. adults reported they had been diagnosed with high blood pressure, however, it is estimated that around one in three U.S. adults with high blood pressure do not know they have it. Hypertension is more common among men in the United States than women, and the risk of developing the condition increases with age. In 2021, almost 61 percent of U.S. adults aged 65 years and older reported having been diagnosed with hypertension, compared to 15 percent of those aged 18 to 44 years. The states with the highest rates of hypertension include Mississippi, Alabama, and West Virginia, where over 45 percent of adults are estimated to have the condition.Risk factors and treatment
High blood pressure can be prevented and managed by avoiding certain risk factors, including smoking, being physically inactive, drinking too much alcohol, being overweight or obese, and consuming too much sodium (salt). Treatment for hypertension usually starts with making these lifestyle changes, but medication is also often prescribed to lower blood pressure. In 2021, around 63 percent of U.S. adults with hypertension reported they were taking prescription medicine to treat the condition. Because hypertension does not have any warning signs, it is important that adults regularly measure their blood pressure, especially as they age, as early treatment can greatly decrease the risk of complications from high blood pressure. Many of the leading causes of death in the United States are connected to hypertension, however, spreading awareness of this silent killer and its modifiable risk factors among the general public can greatly reduce this burden and help millions of people in the United States live longer and healthier lives.
