Hypertension is one of the leading causes of disability or death, due to stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure. Expenses related directly or indirectly to the treatment and detection of hypertension in the United States are approximately billion yearly. Heart disease and stroke remain the first and third leading causes of death, respectively, in the United States. Despite the importance of these observations, for many people blood pressure is poorly controlled.

An estimated 50 million American adults (25 percent of all adults) have high blood pressure, but only 68 percent are aware of their condition, and only 27 percent have it under control. Each year, two million new cases of hypertension are diagnosed. The risk of hypertension increases with age in both men and women. Before age 55, more men than women have hypertension; the reverse is true for those over the age of 55. African Americans have significantly more risk of developing high blood pressure then Caucasians and Mexican Americans.

(Wali RK, Weir MR. Hypertensive cardiovascular disease in African Americans. Curr Hypertens Rep 1999;1:521-528).

(Black HR. Does the evidence from clinical trials justify the treatment of hypertension? Clin Cornerstone 1999;2:13-26).

(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. June 1, 1999).