But the overall rate of Americans who have high blood pressure has not changed in recent years, reflecting the need for better prevention efforts, they wrote in [...]]]> About half of the 65 million people in the United States who have high blood pressure now have it under control, up from 27 percent two decades ago, U.S.

But the overall rate of Americans who have high blood pressure has not changed in recent years, reflecting the need for better prevention efforts, they wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The Institute of Medicine earlier this year declared high blood pressure, or hypertension, a “neglected disease” that costs the U.S. health system $73 billion a year.

High blood pressure, or too much force exerted by blood as it moves against vessel walls, is easily preventable through diet, exercise and drugs, yet it is the second-leading cause of death in the United States.

source www.reuters.com/article/