50 million Americans have hypertension according to the American Heart Association. The disease kills more than 37,000 people annually, and contributes to a raft of other conditions like heart attacks, strokes, and circulatory disorders that kill many times that number each year. High blood pressure often goes undetected. Because there are usually no symptoms, over one third of the people with high blood pressure don't even know they have it. This is especially disturbing because with proper monitoring, high blood pressure is easily detected, and usually, easily controlled.
Prevention is the key.
Only your doctor can determine if you have hypertension. But you may be able to reduce your risk of developing it, and you can help to control it. Regular exercise, reducing the amount of salt in your diet, and losing weight are key steps. It's often a good idea to measure and record your own blood pressure as well. If your doctor has prescribed medicine for your high blood pressure, it's extremely important to take it regularly.