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Most Americans say they are knowledgeable about high blood pressure, but less than 50 percent know that it's associated with heart attack and stroke, a survey by the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) has found. The survey found that 72 percent of Americans are aware of the multiple factors contributing to high blood pressure, including obesity, lack of exercise, salt intake and alcohol consumption. Yet, only 42 percent associate high blood pressure with stroke and heart attack. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, but it can be controlled through medication, diet and exercise, according to the American Heart Association.

The survey also found that 76 percent of Americans are not worried about getting high blood pressure, and that 80 percent of Americans 55 and over also are not concerned. High blood pressure mostly affects middle age and older Americans.

Among other survey findings:

  -- Nearly four in 10 Americans (38 percent) say they do not know their
     blood pressure reading, and surprisingly, more than one in 5 (22
     percent) of older Americans do no know their personal readings.
  -- Nearly one in four Americans (24 percent) report being diagnosed with
     high blood pressure, compared to 37 percent for African-Americans.
     Two-thirds of African-Americans have high blood pressure, according to
     the AHA.  The condition strikes African-Americans 10 years earlier than
     whites.
  -- Most African-Americans know that they have the highest risk for high
     blood pressure of all racial and ethnic groups, but 76 percent without
     high blood pressure say they are not worried about getting it in the
     future.
  -- More than four in five Americans (85 percent) with high blood pressure
     take prescription medication to control it; only 10 percent use diet
     and exercise alone, while 4 percent do nothing.
  -- In general, Americans over-estimate the prevalence of high blood
     pressure.  On average, Americans think 48 percent of the public has it.
  -- Most Americans (77 percent) believe that high blood pressure is rising
     among children and teens.  This confirms recent studies showing that
     after decades of decline, blood pressure levels in children and
     adolescents are increasing.  The studies, including one published in
     the September 2007 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart
     Association, suggest a link between blood pressure increases and the
     recent jump in childhood obesity.

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