Under new guidelines, more Americans meet the criteria for high blood pressure

Under new guidelines, more Americans meet the criteria for high blood pressure Health Sep 21, 2025 1:36 PM EDT

Nearly half of all Americans have high blood pressure – a condition called hypertension .

Hypertension is the No. 1 risk factor for heart disease and stroke. In addition, hypertension increases risk of dementia and cognitive decline. Heart disease, stroke and dementia are the first-, fourth- and sixth-leading causes of death in the U.S. Unfortunately, only 1 in 4 people with a history of high blood pressure have this condition under control.

In August 2025, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology released new guidelines on prevention and management of hypertension , based on a comprehensive analysis of literature published over the past 1