High blood pressure has been an ongoing national health problem for decades. More than 1/3 of all adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure and most don't even know it because there are no symptoms.

A not too long ago study in Finland followed more than twenty four thousand citizens with no history of hypertension or high blood pressure for 13 years. It was an attempt to find a link between high blood pressure and coffee. The age range of the citizens in the study were between 25 and 64 years old. Also required was that they had no history of hypertension drug use and no history of stroke or heart disease.

If your diet is rich in junk food and processed foods, staples of the American diet, you are probably contributing to your high blood pressure more than you think. High blood pressure increases your chances of having a stroke or heart attack. Healthy eating can help you to avoid both fates - even if your family has a history of hypertension.