Americans' blood pressure is on the rise

According to a new report from the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, more Americans are being treated for high blood pressure than ever before. For the study, researchers collected health data on 30,781 people who participated in two national health surveys, one from 1988 to 1994 and one from 1999 to 2004. They found that high blood pressure rates had risen in both men and women in the time between the surveys, with the increase starting at age 40 for women and age 60 for men. Investigators say the U.S. obesity epidemic is behind the higher hypertension rates.  Read full story >