In spite of considerable progress, the control of hypertension in most countries is still insufficient. One of the reasons may be the poor awareness of the blood pressure (BP) cutoff values that define hypertension. The aim of this report is to verify the hypothesis that patients with hypertension accept higher BP levels as normal. The study was performed during a street-based BP screening project carried out across Poland, in summer 1997. In 444 persons who voluntarily participated in Cracow's part of the project, BP was taken on the left arm, in the sitting position, after a minimum of 5 min of rest, using a semiautomated device (Digital Blood Pressure UA-702). A questionnaire investigated participants' age, weight, height, level of education, history of hypertension and perception of normal values of BP. We compared measured BP values with those perceived as normal, and with the values recommended by WHO/ISH guidelines (<140/90 mmHg). To analyse the data we used Student's t-test and linear regression with adjustment for age and body mass index (BMI). Hypertensive subjects, compared with normotensives, were less aware of normal BP values (47.4 vs 83.9%, P<0.001, for systotic blood pressure, and 77.4 vs 88.4%, P<0.01, for diastotic blood pressure). Measured BP was positively related to BP values stated as normal. A similar relation was observed for age and BMI. In conclusion, poor awareness of normal BP values in hypertensives can be an important factor hindering better BP control. Education strategies might prove to be highly effective in helping to tackle the epidemics of hypertension.