High blood pressure is a silent disease which contributes to heart attacks, heart failure, kidney failure, and strokes.
Heart disease is the nation's number one killer, almost equal to all other diseases combined.
Half of the people in this country with high blood pressure are not taking drugs to control their condition. The top number represents the pressure when your heart is pumping and the bottom number represents the pressure when your heart is resting. By age 50, half of all black men will have high blood pressure. About one-third of white women have high blood pressure by age 55. If your family has a history of high blood pressure, early heart disease or diabetes, your doctor will want to check your blood pressure regularly.