High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most common long-term health problems in the United States. It affects nearly half of all adults and can lead to serious complications like heart attacks and strokes—two of the top causes of death in the country.
Despite how common and dangerous it is, a recent national survey shows that most Americans do not fully understand what high blood pressure is or how to recognize it.
The survey, conducted in April 2025 by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC), included over 1,600 adults across the U.S. About 35% of those surveyed said they had been told by a doctor that they have high blood pressure. Of that group, two-thirds said they were somewhat or very worried about the condition.
But worry doesn’t always mean understanding. Only 13% of all respondents correctly identified 130/80 mm Hg as the current threshold for high blood pressure, as defined by the American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Many still believe the older, outdated number of 140/90 is the cutoff, and nearly a quarter of adults say they’re simply not sure what number qualifies as high.
Blood pressure is measured using two numbers: the top number (systolic) shows the pressure when the heart beats, and the bottom number (diastolic) shows the pressure when the heart is resting. High readings put stress on the heart and blood vessels, and over time this increases the risk of heart disease, kidney failure, and stroke.
But high blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because it usually has no symptoms at all. Yet more than one-third of survey participants wrongly believe it causes noticeable signs like dizziness or shortness of breath.
Even more surprising, nearly 40% of respondents think that “feeling calm and relaxed” means their blood pressure is normal. This is also incorrect. Your mood doesn’t always match what’s happening inside your body. In fact, the only way to know your blood pressure is to measure it with a reliable device.
There is good news: most people—whether they have high blood pressure or not—are aware of the healthy habits that help lower it. These include eating a nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, limiting salt, and taking medication if needed.
For example, over 90% of people know that watching what you eat helps control blood pressure, and 89% understand that regular physical activity helps too.
The majority of respondents said they would follow their doctor’s advice if told to change their habits. More than 85% said they would likely exercise, eat better, monitor their blood pressure, or take medication if recommended.
However, fewer people actually follow through. Only about 61% say they exercise regularly, and just 57% report limiting salt intake more than once a week.
Among those already diagnosed with high blood pressure, 90% say they take their prescribed medication daily. But the remaining 10% say they skip it because they don’t think it’s necessary. This attitude may reflect another knowledge gap: not everyone understands that controlling blood pressure helps prevent long-term health damage, even when no symptoms are present.
The survey also shows that most Americans understand that family history increases the risk for high blood pressure—but they also know it’s not a life sentence. Over 80% agree that even if high blood pressure runs in your family, there are still steps you can take to lower your risk.
In short, while many Americans know what to do to manage high blood pressure, not everyone understands what high blood pressure is.
This gap between knowledge and action points to a need for better education—not just about treatments, but about the condition itself. Patrick Jamieson of the Annenberg Health and Risk Communication Institute says clearing up these misunderstandings should be a top priority for public health.
The researchers hope their findings will help health professionals improve how they talk to patients about high blood pressure—what it is, how it works, and why it matters.
As Laura Gibson, another analyst on the project, noted, the public’s broad awareness of healthy habits shows progress. But understanding the numbers, risks, and symptoms—or lack thereof—may be just as important in saving lives.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about blood pressure drug that may increase risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and these teas could help reduce high blood pressure.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about nutrient that could strongly lower high blood pressure, and results showing this novel antioxidant may help reverse blood vessels aging by 20 years.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
