Many people lack knowledge about high blood pressure
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- Reviewed by Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Nearly half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure, but many don’t have a good understanding of the condition, according to a recent survey of 1,653 people conducted through the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center.
About a third of the survey participants had been diagnosed with high blood pressure (also known as hypertension). About two-thirds of those with the condition said they were somewhat or very worried about it. But only 13% of all respondents correctly identified the blood pressure reading that signifies hypertension: 130/80 mm Hg or higher.
More than a third of respondents mistakenly thought hypertension nearly always involves symptoms such as dizziness and shortness of breath. And 30% falsely believed that feeling relaxed and calm reflects normal blood pressure. While most were familiar with ways to prevent hypertension (such as eating a healthy diet and exercising), fewer people consistently followed that advice.
However, 90% of those who’d been told to take blood pressure medications daily said they took them as prescribed or almost every day. The findings were published online Aug. 15, 2025, by JAMA Network Open.
Image: © ThamKC/Getty Images
About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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