Americans Fatter, Lazier, but Blood Pressure in Check

ATLANTA (CBS/AP) We eat too much salt, we eat too much fat and we don't exercise as much as we should, but according to a new government report our blood pressure is holding steady.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the proportion of adults who have high blood pressure has held steady at 30 percent for a decade, although the total number has ballooned from 59 to 66 million or more Americans. That's because the baby boom generation, which has more people than previous generations, is aging.

Americans also appear to be paying attention to the problem. People who have high blood pressure are increasingly aware of their condition and are taking their medicine, the report found.

High blood pressure -- or hypertension -- is often called the "silent killer" because it doesn't have symptoms, so many people don't know they have it, according to the CDC. It increases a person's chances for heart disease, stroke and other serious problems.

But it's easy to check for and usually can be controlled through exercise, diet and medicine.