Nearly one-third of American adults have high cholesterol, and new research suggests that people with high cholesterol may be at a higher risk for high blood pressure.

Nephrologist Joel Van Sickler says, "Hypertension is considered the silent killer because it causes heart disease, it causes stroke, and it causes kidney failure."

Brenda Bush lost her father to heart disease at a young age, so she was very concerned when a physical revealed she had high blood pressure. "It was like 160 over 112. So, the next day I had it checked the next day and I was real, real relaxed and calm and everything, so I had the nurse to check it and it was still real, real high."

Cardiologist Arthur Muller says that Brenda's working on being fit because being overweight often times has a domino effect on our health and how it inhibits the action of your insulin. "That causes you to have high cholesterol and triglcerides, that causes you to have high blood pressure, that puts you at risk for having heart attack and stroke in the future."

Dr. Muller also says that risk factors for high blood pressure and high cholesterol are similar-a diet rich in fat, low in whole grains, fruits and vegetables and a lack of exercise. "Exercise is very important. That elevates good cholesterol."

Dr. Vansickler says "If you have high blood pressure, it's important that you want to restrict one's salt in their diet and eat the appropriate foods so lifestyle has some bearing."

One recent study over a 14-year period showed that the participants with high cholesterol were at in increased risk for hypertension by 40%. Brenda says it's important to get both your cholesterol and your blood pressure checked. "When you do know, you can do something about it."

The standard risk factors for heart disease in addition to high blood pressure and high cholesterol also include smoking, diabetes and obesity.

An estimated 50 million Americans have high blood pressure, with 30% of them not knowing that they have it.