Many Americans wrongly assume they understand what normal blood pressure is – and that false confidence can be deadly

High blood pressure has no symptoms, so you could have it and not be aware. nortonsx/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Stunning as it may sound, nearly half of Americans ages 20 years and up – or more than 122 million people – have high blood pressure, according to a 2023 report from the American Heart Association. And even if your numbers are normal right now, they are likely to increase as you age; more than three-quarters of Americans age 65 and older have high blood pressure.

Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.