Talk Pressure: A Guide to Hypertension Communication

Proven messages to explain hypertension and motivate action.
 

Managing hypertension is one of the biggest opportunities we have to prevent heart disease and stroke. Yet too often, people have limited knowledge of hypertension, doubt their ability to control it and struggle to take action. At the same time, healthcare and public health professionals face competing priorities and communication challenges that make it difficult to explain hypertension in ways that truly resonate.

Talk Pressure: A Healthcare Professional’s Guide to Hypertension Communication

The “Talk Pressure: A Guide to Hypertension Communication” was created to bridge this gap. Grounded in audience research and insights from healthcare and public health professionals, it equips you with practical messages to help patients understand, feel confident and take small steps towards hypertension control. Stronger communication helps you build trust, and patients are more likely to follow through on treatment plans.

The Talk Pressure Guide is the first in a suite of resources tied to the National Hypertension Control Campaign, set to launch in February 2026.


WHAT'S INSIDE THE GUIDE

The Talk Pressure Guide presents the C.A.R.E approach to strengthen communication with those you serve:

  • Close Knowledge Gaps: Explain core facts about hypertension and its risks.
  • Affirm Positive Beliefs: Reinforce that hypertension control is possible and worth the effort.
  • Reframe Barriers: Address limiting beliefs and misconceptions that may hold patients back.
  • Encourage Next Steps: Empower patients to take clear, achievable actions.

Say it with C.A.R.E to build trust and increase the chances that patients follow through with treatment.

Inside the Talk Pressure Guide you’ll find:

  • Research-based messages aligned with the four key areas in C.A.R.E. that you can use in conversations with patients.
  • Practical communication tips, including dos and don’ts to guide how you deliver your messages.
  • Resources to help you plan communications, whether for one-on-one patient conversations or broader public health campaigns.
     

HOW TO USE THE TALK PRESSURE GUIDE

  1. Download the Talk Pressure Guide. Save it on your device or print a copy for quick access.
     
  2. Apply the Messages in Your Setting. The Talk Pressure Guide is designed for anyone who communicates about health, including health educators, clinicians, public health staff and more. Use it to:
    • Prepare for personalized patient conversations during clinic visits.
    • Share consistent messages in trainings for healthcare staff.
    • Incorporate messages into community health education, such as group sessions or outreach events.
    • Reinforce key messages through follow-ups via phone calls and patient portals.
       
  3. Share the Talk Pressure Guide. Promote effective communication by sharing the Talk Pressure Guide with your colleagues, teams and partner organizations. Share it on social media to help more healthcare and public health professionals strengthen patient communication.
     

  4. Provide Feedback. As you use the Talk Pressure Guide, submit your feedback here . Your feedback helps us understand how this resource is being used and how it can be improved.

     

NEED HELP?
Contact the National Hypertension Control Program Team.