Half of all Americans with high blood pressure have the condition under control, according to a new study, accomplishing one of the national objectives for improving Americans’ health set by the government public health initiative Healthy People 2010.

The accomplishment represents steady and significant progress since 1999-2000, when one-quarter of hypertensives had their condition under control, and further progress since 2003-4, when one-third had control of their high blood pressure.

“At the time the goal was set, it was seen as extremely ambitious  most experts did not see that level of progress being made,” said Dr. Brent M. Egan, professor of medicine and pharmacology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, and lead author of the study published in the May 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

“Practicing physicians in communities across the country are doing a very good job, and awareness has improved,” Dr. Egan said.