RALEIGH -- While dealing with the General Assembly can sometimes raise one's blood pressure, there's an awareness effort Wednesday at the legislature building to call attention to the dangers of hypertension.

Heart disease and stroke are the second and fourth leading causes of death in North Carolina, and high blood pressure is a major risk factor in developing both. Apex physician Bryan Forrest says health physicians and advocates are gathering at the legislature to raise awareness and physicians from the North Carolina Academy of Family Physician will perform free blood pressure screenings for legislators, staff and visitors.

"We want to make people aware that hypertension is a problem and make sure that people know their number," said  Forrest. "Probably the most important one for them to know is their blood pressure and they need to know if it is normal or not."

Forrest said nearly 29 percent of North Carolinians have hypertension and about 20 percent who have high blood pressure do not know that they have it.

"Diet, especially as it relates to being overweight certainly plays a role," said Forrest. "There is also a lot of different components including genetics that play a role."

Governor Pat McCrory has declared May 21 as "Hypertension/High Blood Pressure Day" in North Carolina. Both the North Carolina House and Senate will consider resolutions to this issue on Wednesday.