CDC: Most U.S. adults know they have high blood pressure

ATLANTA, June 5 (UPI) -- Research indicates many U.S. adults know they have high blood pressure, a survey indicates.

Survey data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta showed 26 percent reported high blood pressure in 2005, 28 percent in 2009. In reality, 31 percent have high blood pressure -- or 1-in-3 American adults.

Dr. Fleetwood Loustalot of the CDC said high blood pressure does not produce symptoms in most cases. It takes a blood pressure check to find out if blood pressure is higher than normal -- 120 mmHg diastolic, 80mmHg systolic.

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries. High blood pressure means blood is moving through arteries with a pressure higher than normal. The higher the pressure inside arteries, the higher blood pressure numbers may be, Loustalot said.

People can act to control blood pressure. Loustalot said this includes not smoking and having healthy, low-sodium eating patterns.

"Exercise regularly," Loustalot said in a statement. "Current guidelines recommend that we get about 150 minutes a week of physical activity, but some activity is always better than none."

However, some people need medication to manage the condition, Loustalot said.