Adults taking action to control their blood pressure--United States, 1990.

Approximately 50 million persons in the United States have high blood pressure (1). Despite substantial increases in the awareness and treatment of hypertension, 79% of persons with hypertension do not have their blood pressure under control (1). A national health objective for the year 2000 is to increase to at least 90% the proportion of persons with hypertension who are "taking action" to help control their blood pressure (objective 15.5) (2). This report summarizes data from CDC's National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) on the proportion of persons with hypertension who are taking action to control their blood pressure and on factors associated with taking action.