Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and only about one in four of them has it under control. Because the condition usually causes no symptoms, a measurement is the only way to know where you stand.
How common is high blood pressure?
The CDC’s high blood pressure facts page, reviewed most recently in June 2026, reports that 48.1% of U.S. adults, or 119.9 million people, have high blood pressure. For this count, the CDC defines the condition as a systolic reading greater than 130 mm Hg, a diastolic reading greater than 80 mm Hg, or the use of blood pressure medication.
The same page reports that about one in six adults with high blood pressure is unaware of it. That is a reminder that the condition can be present for a long time without any sign, which is why the CDC stresses that measuring is the only way to find out.
What do the numbers on a reading mean?
A blood pressure reading has two numbers. The top number is systolic pressure and the bottom number is diastolic pressure, both measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Blood pressure itself is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries.
The CDC, citing guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, describes the categories this way:
| Category | Systolic (top) | Diastolic (bottom) |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Below 120 | Below 80 |
| Elevated | 120 to 129 | Below 80 |
| High | 130 or higher | 80 or higher |
A health care team makes a diagnosis by comparing a person’s readings with the guidelines. A single number on a single day does not settle the question, and anyone with a concern should ask a clinician how to interpret their own results.
Why does high blood pressure matter?
Left uncontrolled, the CDC says, high blood pressure can damage the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. It raises the risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and chronic kidney disease.
The toll is large. According to the CDC, high blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of 680,179 deaths in the United States in 2024. The agency also cites an estimated $219 billion in annual costs associated with the condition in 2019.
How many people have it under control?
Control is where the data is least encouraging. The CDC reports that 22.5% of adults with high blood pressure, or 27.0 million people, have it under control. That is roughly one in four.
The figures also point to a treatment gap:
- About 34 million adults who may need blood pressure medicine under current guidelines are not taking it, according to the CDC.
- Of those 34 million, 19 million have readings of 140/90 mm Hg or higher.
- By simple subtraction, that leaves about 15 million untreated adults with readings below that level but who may still need medicine under current guidelines.
- About 45% of adults with uncontrolled high blood pressure, or 37 million people, have readings of 140/90 mm Hg or higher.
As a quick check on the headline numbers, 27.0 million divided by 119.9 million is about 22.5%, matching the CDC’s control rate.
Quick facts at a glance
| Measure | CDC figure |
|---|---|
| U.S. adults with high blood pressure | 48.1% (119.9 million) |
| Adults with it who are unaware | About 1 in 6 |
| Adults with it under control | 22.5% (27.0 million) |
| Adults who may need medicine but are not taking it | About 34 million |
| Deaths with high blood pressure as a primary or contributing cause, 2024 | 680,179 |
| Estimated annual cost, 2019 | $219 billion |
These figures are as of the CDC page’s June 2026 review and may be updated as new data is released.
Does it affect everyone equally?
No. The CDC data shows differences by sex, race and ethnicity, in both how common the condition is and how often it is controlled.
By sex, 50% of men and 42.1% of women have high blood pressure. By race and ethnicity, the prevalence figures reported by the CDC are:
| Group | Share with high blood pressure |
|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic Black adults | 59.6% |
| Hispanic adults | 44.9% |
| Non-Hispanic white adults | 44.8% |
| Non-Hispanic Asian adults | 42.7% |
Control among people who are recommended medication also varies. The CDC reports control rates of 46.8% for non-Hispanic Asian adults, 41.3% for Hispanic adults, 39.9% for non-Hispanic white adults and 31.8% for non-Hispanic Black adults. The gap suggests that finding and treating high blood pressure is not equally effective across communities, and that access to regular care matters.
What raises the risk?
The CDC lists several risk factors. Some are about daily habits, such as not getting enough physical activity. Others are medical, including diabetes and obesity, and pregnancy can also raise blood pressure. Long-term depression, anxiety, stress or post-traumatic stress disorder may play a part, as can family history and environmental factors.
Not all of these can be changed, which is one reason regular checks matter even for people who feel well and live healthily. Because the CDC says high blood pressure typically has no signs or symptoms, feeling fine is not evidence that a reading is in the normal range. People with several risk factors, such as diabetes together with a family history, have a particular reason to ask their health care team how often to be checked.
The CDC also lists long-term stress and mental health conditions among the contributors. That link is a useful prompt for people who are managing both: tell the clinician about each, since the two can affect each other.
What can lower the risk or help manage it?
The CDC’s prevention guidance covers habits that apply to most adults. It does not replace a clinician’s advice, but it shows the general approach:
- Eat a healthy diet. Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and foods rich in potassium, fiber and protein and lower in salt and saturated fat. The CDC notes the DASH eating plan has a record of helping lower blood pressure.
- Be physically active. Adults should get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week, which works out to about 30 minutes a day on 5 days.
- Keep a healthy weight. Excess weight raises the risk.
- Do not smoke. Smoking raises blood pressure and the risk of heart attack and stroke, and quitting lowers the risk of heart disease.
- Limit alcohol. The CDC advises no more than 2 drinks a day for men and no more than 1 for women.
- Get enough sleep. Regularly getting too little sleep is linked to a higher risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
- Manage stress and mental health. Discuss heart-related concerns with a health care team.
For some people, medication is also part of the plan. That decision belongs to a patient and their clinician.
Where can Marylanders turn for related help?
Blood pressure is a good topic to raise at a routine visit, along with other seasonal steps such as the flu vaccine. Stress is among the factors the CDC links to high blood pressure, and anyone in emotional distress can reach the 988 Lifeline by calling or texting 988. In a medical emergency, such as sudden chest pain, trouble speaking or signs of a stroke, call 911. For questions about a possible poisoning or medication mix-up, see our guide to the Maryland Poison Center.
What the data adds up to
The CDC figures describe a condition that is extremely common, often silent and not controlled in most people who have it. The gap between those who have high blood pressure and those whose readings are in a healthy range is large, and the agency’s guidance points to ordinary measures: regular measurement, a diet low in salt and saturated fat, regular activity, no smoking, limited alcohol, enough sleep and, where needed, medication. Anyone unsure of their numbers can ask a doctor, nurse or pharmacist to check them.
This article is general information based on CDC data, not medical advice. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist about your own blood pressure and treatment.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
