About 1 in every 5 adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure occurs more often in men than in women and in African Americans almost twice as often as in Caucasians. Hypertension can affect all types of people.
Most people feel no symptoms with uncomplicated high blood pressure.
Even though many high blood pressure cases do not have a known cause, the condition can still be treated effectively. There are dozens of different medications available for the management of high blood pressure. For high blood pressure caused by essential hypertension , a proper diet, weight loss , exercise , and salt and alcohol reduction are often recommended. If these measures do not work, talk to your health care provider about taking medication to lower blood pressure. For high blood pressure caused by medication, consult with your health care provider about changing or discontinuing drugs.