US Surgeon General Releases Call to Action to Control Hypertension

High Blood Pressure Control IS Possible

Today, Surgeon General VADM Jerome M. Adams, M.D., M.P.H., issued a Call to Action urging Americans to recognize and address hypertension control as a national, public health priority. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Control Hypertension provides strategies for those on the frontlines of health care and public health to address this costly, dangerous and far too common chronic health condition.

Nearly 1 in 2 adults have hypertension, yet only about 1 in 4 have it under control, which equates to over 82 million adult Americans with uncontrolled hypertension. If left uncontrolled, hypertension can increase a person’s risk for heart disease, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, pregnancy complications, and cognitive decline later in life. Throughout its history, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has used these science-based summary documents to stimulate action on urgent public health problems. This 2020 Call to Action will be the first such action-oriented publication in more than five years.

The Surgeon General’s Call to Action summarizes recent data on hypertension control for all populations, identifies the 10 most effective strategies for achieving control, and provides recommendations to individuals and organizations that can improve rates of hypertension prevention and control. Among the strategies identified are:

Increase awareness of health risks;
Recognize economic burden;
Eliminate disparities in access to care and health outcomes;
Promote physical activity opportunities;
Promote opportunities to access healthy foods and good nutrition;
Connect to lifestyle change resources;
Use standardized treatment approaches;
Promote team-based care;
Empower and equip patients; and
Recognize and reward clinicians.

Everyone can improve hypertension control by taking action in our communities and in our healthcare system. As community partners, we all can take deliberate steps to address the social determinants of health necessary to help people in our communities better manage and improve their blood pressure and overall health.