The High Cost of High Blood Pressure

Posted on Sep 5, 2012

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Some 67 million Americans—about a third of the adult population—have high blood pressure, and about half of them do not have it under control, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Elevated blood pressure is a major factor in heart disease and strokes.

Hypertension kills about 1,000 Americans every day and accounts for $131 billion in health care costs each year, the CDC says.

—Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.

CDC:

These key findings suggest that controlling high blood pressure may benefit from a team-based approach between health care systems, health care providers (those who see and treat patients), and patients to work together to treat high blood pressure.

“We have to roll up our sleeves and make blood pressure control a priority every day, with every patient, at every doctor’s visit,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “With increased focus and collaboration among patients, health care providers and health care systems, we can help 10 million Americans’ blood pressure come into control in the next five years.”

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