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Health Fact Sheets

High Blood Pressure Facts (revised August 2010)

High blood pressure is one of the leading co-morbid causes for heart disease and stroke.

High blood pressure (hypertension) is the blood pressure reading equal to or greater than 140/90 mmHG or 130/80 mmHG in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease. To have high blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, the first and fourth leading causes of death in Tennessee. People of all ages and backgrounds can develop high blood pressure and it is preventable (TN Resident Data, 2008).

Tennessee’s High Blood Pressure Burden

  • Almost 34% (33.8%) of all adult Tennesseans were diagnosed with high blood pressure (TN BRFSS, 2007).
  • High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, and kidney disease.
  • The mortality rate for high blood pressure increased by 12.0%. It rose from 20.9/100,000 in 1996 to 23.4/100,000 in 2006 (TN DSSS, 2006).
  • Inpatient charges for high blood pressure rose to $136.2 million in 2006 (TN HDDS Outpatient File, 1997-2006, based on the year 2000 dollar).
  • Twenty five percent of American adults have prehypertension - blood pressure numbers that are higher than normal, but not yet in the high blood pressure range. Prehypertension raises your risk for high blood pressure.

Levels Vary by Age

Women are about as likely as men to develop high blood pressure during their lifetimes. However, for people under 45 years old the condition affects more men than women. For people 65 years and older, it affects more women than men (National Center for Health Statistics, Health, United States, 2008).

Levels Vary by Race and Ethnicity

Blacks (36.9%) develop high blood pressure more often and at an earlier age, than Whites and Mexican Americans do. Among Blacks, more women than men have the condition. Of all black Tennesseans, 36.9% have high blood pressure and 34.0% white Tennesseans have high blood pressure (TN BRFSS, 2007).

Levels Vary by Geography

Areas with the highest rates of high blood pressure are the Upper Cumberland region, Northwest region, East TN region, South Central region, and Hamilton County.

Regions/ County

Percentage of people with high blood pressure

Upper Cumberland region

39.6%

Northwest region

39.1%

East TN region

38.2%

South Central region

36.9%

Hamilton County

37.1%

 

Talk with Your Doctor About High Blood Pressure


  • About two thirds of adult Tennesseans with high blood pressure were advised to change their eating habits, reduce their salt and alcohol intake, and exercise.
  • Adults who were overweight or obese and those who did not engage in any physical activities during the past month were more likely to have high blood pressure than those without these risk factors.
  • Adults with high blood pressure were approximately three times more likely to have had a stroke or heart attack than those without high blood pressure (TN BRFSS, 2007).