Medical community worried Americans face increased risk of heart disease

As the number of Americans diagnosed with high blood pressure continues to rise, the medical community is growing increasingly worried about the population’s risk of having heart attacks, said the American Academy of Family Physicians in a Feb. 2 statement.

A 2016 survey, conducted by the Academy, found that nearly three in 10 men and women (29 percent) reported they had high blood pressure. Other studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirm the data. According to them, 75 million Americans have high blood pressure.

"This finding is concerning because we know that high blood pressure and heart attacks or chronic heart failure are so closely related," said John Meigs Jr., MD, president of the AAFP, in a statement. "According to the CDC, seven out of 10 people who have a first heart attack have high blood pressure. Seven out of 10 people who develop chronic heart failure have high blood pressure. So it's important that people know what their blood pressure is and work with their family physician to treat it."

The CDC reports that more people, especially those over the age of 60, are being treated for the condition. However, one in five still aren’t aware that they have it.

"Get your blood pressure checked. If you have high blood pressure, work with your doctor to treat it and lower your risk factors," Meigs said. "That same advice applies to knowing what your blood cholesterol levels are. You can work with your family physician to prevent or reduce the risk factors that lead to heart disease. Learn about heart health and what you can do in your everyday life to stay healthy."