Finding Hidden High Blood Pressure in Grown-Ups
Prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and risk assessment using a validated survey in community-based screening in Amman, Jordan
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Almost half the population had elevated systolic BP (120–129 mmHg), despite not having a diagnosis.
Most people assume blood pressure problems only affect the elderly or those with obvious health issues, but this shows it’s widespread even in seemingly healthy adults.
Practical Takeaways
Take a validated hypertension risk quiz—even if you feel healthy—to see if you should get your blood pressure checked.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Almost half the population had elevated systolic BP (120–129 mmHg), despite not having a diagnosis.
Most people assume blood pressure problems only affect the elderly or those with obvious health issues, but this shows it’s widespread even in seemingly healthy adults.
Practical Takeaways
Take a validated hypertension risk quiz—even if you feel healthy—to see if you should get your blood pressure checked.
Publication
Journal
PLOS One
Year
2026
Authors
Anas Khaleel, Malak Al-Quaiti, Sara Istaitiya, Abhijit V. Kshirsagar, Heejung Bang
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Claims (6)
Lots of people have high blood pressure, cholesterol, or blood sugar without knowing it because they haven’t been checked — and that means we’re probably underestimating how common these health risks really are.
Almost half of adults in a study from Amman, Jordan had slightly high blood pressure, which means they might be at risk for full hypertension — but simple lifestyle changes could help stop it from getting worse.
A simple health checklist used in Jordan can spot high blood pressure in adults pretty well — people who score 17 or more on it are nearly 20 times more likely to have high blood pressure than those with lower scores, and it rarely gives false alarms.
In a health check in Amman, Jordan, about 1 in 5 adults who didn’t know they had high blood pressure actually did — and this was found just during one screening visit.
In a health check in Amman, Jordan, adults with a high chance of getting high blood pressure were more likely to be older, overweight, inactive, or have family history of high blood pressure or diabetes.