High blood pressure misconceptions

CHICAGO, IL — May 21, 2007 — More than 90% of hypertensive patients are aware that increased blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, according to research presented here at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hypertension (ASH).

Marvin Moser, MD, President, Hypertension Education Foundation, Scarsdale, New York, United States, presented results of an on-line questionnaire taken by 1,245 hypertensive patients (45 years of age or older) aimed at providing updated information on the status of blood pressure control in different patient groups.

More than 90% of respondents correctly associated high blood pressure with heart attacks and stroke. About two-thirds correctly associated high blood pressure with kidney failure, atherosclerosis, and an enlarged heart.

The study also found, however, that misconceptions related to hypertension are common. In fact, roughly 12% of all respondents and nearly a quarter of all African-Americans still believe that high blood pressure means that a person is tense or anxious.

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