OBJECTIVES: Antihypertensive medication and lifestyle modification are crucial for adequate control of hypertension in the vast majority of patients with this condition. Poor adherence to one or both of these treatment modalities, however, oftentimes prevents achievement of goal blood pressure. The primary objective of this study was to examine predictors of receiving and adhering to antihypertensive medication and lifestyle modification for the treatment of hypertension. METHODS: This study included adult respondents from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System who reported being diagnosed by a health care provider as having hypertension (n=38,474). A multivariable logistic regression model was estimated to identify independent predictors of receiving and taking antihypertensive medications as prescribed, as well as receiving and adhering to a lifestyle modification advise from a healthcare provider, including modification of eating habits, physical exercise, reduction of alcohol consumption and salt intake. The following potential predictors were examined: respondent’s sex, education, employment, marital status, health status, health insurance access, cigarette use, and geographic location. RESULTS: Black and older (≥65 years) patients were more likely to be advised by healthcare providers to take medications for management of their hypertension compared to White and younger patients (O.R.=1.71 and OR=11.2, p=0.003 and p<0.0001 respectively). All minority patients (Black, Native Americans, Asians, and Hispanics) were more likely to receive a recommendation about low-sodium diet and reduction of alcohol consumption compared to Whites (p<0.001). With respect to adherence to medication management and life-style modifications, minority patients appeared to be similar or even more adherent than White patients after controlling for respondent characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate demographic differences with regards to adherence to therapeutic medication and lifestyle-modification for treating hypertension which may, in part, be a consequence of differences in how providers counsel and treat patients based on their socio-demographic characteristics.