New Survey Finds That a Majority of Americans Are Concerned About High Blood Pressure, the ‘Silent Killer’

WASHINGTON—A new survey by Morning Consult and the nonprofit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine finds that a majority of Americans, 60%, are concerned about high blood pressure. Nearly half of Americans have high blood pressure according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and alarmingly, this condition is increasing among children.

The new survey also found that most Americans, 65%, are willing to try a plant-based diet during the month of May, which is High Blood Pressure Education Month. Numerous scientific studies show that focusing on fruits, veggies, beans, whole grains, and other plant-based foods can help you maintain your blood pressure within a healthy range.

Surprisingly, the survey revealed that a majority of Americans, 64%, are willing to avoid foods high in saturated fat, like meat and poultry. Saturated fat can make your blood more viscous and harder for the heart to pump, leading to high blood pressure.

In terms of making healthy lifestyle choices, the new survey shows that members of Generation Z are leading the way. In order to reduce their risk of high blood pressure, 73% of members of Generation Z are willing to avoid foods that are high in saturated fat like meat and poultry.

Young people who are members of Generation Z will likely cause a shift in U.S. food production from animal agriculture to plant-based foods. This could reduce future rates of diet-related diseases such as heart disease. A shift toward growing crops and orchards will also benefit the environment and address climate change.

“Since May is High Blood Pressure Education Month, it’s important for people to know that you can maintain your blood pressure within a healthy range with simple lifestyle choices, especially eating plenty of leafy greens, beans, berries, and other plant-based foods,” says Anna Herby, DHSc, RD, CDE. Dr. Herby holds a doctorate in health sciences and she is the nutrition education specialist at the Physicians Committee, a nonprofit health advocacy organization with 17,000 physician members nationwide.

A large scientific review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, involving 21,915 study participants, found that following a plant-based diet is associated with lower blood pressure. Some studies focus on the workplace since that’s where we spend a great deal of time. A study published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine found that hospital workers following a plant-based diet experienced a decrease in their diastolic blood pressure and improved other cardiometabolic outcomes.

Certain foods, like beets and bananas, are especially helpful for maintaining blood pressure within a healthy range. Bananas provide you with potassium which can lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessel walls and helping the body dispose of sodium. Beets contain nitrates, which convert into nitric oxide, a compound that may lower blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily.

Survey Question: Nearly half of adults have high blood pressure, and it’s called the ”silent killer.” This condition is also increasing among children. Thinking about your health, is high blood pressure something you are generally concerned about?

Response: Adults who are very concerned or somewhat concerned: 60%

Survey Question: May is High Blood Pressure Education Month. If you were given a challenge to try a plant-based diet during the month of May to lower your blood pressure or reduce your risk of high blood pressure, would you be interested in trying the challenge?

Response: Adults who are either very interested or somewhat interested: 65%

Survey Question: Studies have shown that eating foods with saturated fat, such as meat and poultry, make blood more viscous and raise blood pressure. If you had high blood pressure or wanted to reduce your risk of high blood pressure, would you be willing to avoid eating meat and poultry?

Response: Adults who are very willing or somewhat willing: 64%

Response: Members of Gen Z who are very willing or somewhat willing: 73%

Journalists who would like a copy of the complete survey report please contact Jeanne McVey, jeannem [at] pcrm.org, or 202-607-1687.