High blood pressure (hypertension) killed 56,561 people in the United States in 2006.
- About 74.5 million people in the United States age 20 and older have high blood pressure.
- One in three adults has high blood pressure.
- Of those people with high blood pressure, 77.6 percent were aware of their condition.
- Of all people with high blood pressure, 67.9 percent were under current treatment, 44.1 percent had it under control, and 55.9 percent did not have it controlled.
- The cause of 90–95 percent of the cases of high blood pressure isn't known; however, high blood pressure is easily detected and usually controllable.
- From 1996 to 2006 the death rate from high blood pressure increased 19.5 percent, and the actual number of deaths rose 48.1 percent.
- Non-Hispanic blacks are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure than are non-Hispanic whites.
- Within the African-American community, those with the highest rates of hypertension, are more likely to be middle aged or older, less educated, overweight or obese, physically inactive, and to have diabetes.
- In 2006 the death rates per 100,000 population from high blood pressure were 15.6 for white males, 51.1 for black males, 14.3 for white females and 37.7 for black females.
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