A new survey has found that only one out of four people with high blood pressure has it under control. Conventional wisdom in the past has blamed poverty and lack of access to health care for such a poor record.

But a new government study, based on interviews with more than 16,000 adults, found that the vast majority of people with hypertension have health insurance and had seen their doctor during the past year. Most of the people whose hypertension wasn't under control were over the age of 65. On the one hand, sometimes doctors are reluctant to lower blood flow too much in the elderly out of concern for inhibiting blood flow to the brain. On the other hand, there is a lot of evidence that blood pressure can - and should - be controlled in people of all ages.

If you are not meeting your blood pressure goals, ask your doctor to adjust your medication and try to get it down where it belongs.

Related information How to lower it | Treatment | Visiting your doctor