We searched the web during September and October 2014 to find  online communities that were available to support patients with high blood pressure or hypertension.  Support for the  rare disease pulmonary hypertension (affecting 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 1 million people) was excluded from this list.

The communities that were discovered varied greatly in the recency of postings, the activity of those involved and the number of members.  Some of this was self-evident or obvious from the home page of the community.  In other cases, it was necessary to join the group in order to determine the level of activity.  Some of the groups do not provide numbers of participants.

All figures relate to when this post was researched, during September-October 2014. Of course, these figures can change over time.

Relatively active online communities

Website / Community	Size	Vibrancy & Recommendations
	26,000	There are over 800 posts on hypertension, 186 topics covered.Over 1,200 people say that their primary condition is hypertension.People are responsive and active.There is a significant amount of helpful information within this community.
	500	Signing up is easy.  It asks for your age and location.  This is so they can provide you with info about other people that you can link up with…perhaps in real life…to get support.People are responsive and active.If the group doesn’t answer your question, a moderator will answer.Joining several groups is easy and a good idea.
	2,100	This closed group discusses medications and natural alternatives.It is actively policed to remove posts trying to sell products.People are joining this group on a regular basis to discuss their experiences.

Relatively inactive online communities

Website / Community	Size	Vibrancy & Recommendations
	1538	This group is one of several groups on SupportGroups.com. Unfortunately, the questions and comment threads are a few months old.
		The most recent posting is April 2014.
		This is a moderated forum.It is not extremely active…only 2 posts in September.The most recent post was someone posting a survey without any real information.  Two people in the community told the poster that there was “no way in the world I would click on that link without a lot more information about you.”
	203	The most recent discussion is May 2014.  The most popular posts occurred in 2012.

This study investigated the effects of statin treatment on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Statins were found to significantly reduce prostate size and improve urinary symptoms. 

This review analyzed a number of studies which evaluated the efficacy and safety of a new combination drug (LCZ696) in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

This study investigated whether reducing blood pressure too much in patients with cardiovascular disease puts them at risk of developing heart problems.

This study investigated the effects of WAVE (Water Vapor Energy Ablation) – a new procedure to relieve urinary symptoms due to benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). WAVE was found to be a simple, effective and safe method of treating BPH symptoms. 

This trial investigated the efficiency and tolerability of evolocumab as a cholesterol reducing drug.

In this review, researchers summarized the new developments in anti-hypertensive treatments.

This study examined the major risk factors for the development of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients recently diagnosed with hypertension.

This trial investigated the association between medications used to treat hypertension and the risk of developing cognitive impairment in elderly men.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of Flowens (a cranberry fruit powder) as an alternative treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Researchers report preliminary evidence that Flowens can reduce BPH-related urinary symptoms.