Nearly half of U.S. adults live with high blood pressure, but most don’t know it.

Hypertension is often called the “silent killer” because it rarely shows symptoms until complications strike. Left untreated, hypertension increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, and cognitive decline.

Here are the facts:

• 1 in 3 adults with high blood pressure don’t know they have it.

• Lowering your blood pressure by just 5 points can cut your risk of stroke by 14% and heart disease by 9%.

• Even “borderline” hypertension (120–129 systolic) raises long-term cardiovascular risk.
  

Sleep apnea, chronic stress, and poor diet are hidden drivers that often go overlooked.