Nearly half of Americans live with high blood pressure. High blood pressure, or hypertension, contributed to nearly 700,000 deaths in 2021 and is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Stacker used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to examine the counties with the highest rates of high blood pressure in Alabama as of 2021. Ties are broken by the share of the population on blood pressure medication. For counties that ranked in the top 200 nationally, their national rank for high blood pressure prevalence is also included.
The Southeast has the highest rates of high blood pressure. Racial disparities underscore these geographical trends, as about 40% of Black people across the U.S. have high blood pressure. Social determinants of health, including access to health care and fresh foods, have contributed to higher rates.
Guidelines for doctors have also limited the types of high blood pressure medication available to Black patients, a paradigm which is now starting to shift as recent studies have pointed out the flaws of race-based prescribing for hypertension.
You may also like: Most popular boy names in the 80s in Alabama
Emma Rubin // Stacker
1 / 26State-level statistics
The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology in 2017 updated high blood pressure guidelines for the first time since 2003. Any reading of 130/80 and above is now considered hypertensive.
Blood pressure is measured using two numbers: systolic and diastolic pressure. The systolic reading examines the arteries when the heart is beating, while the diastolic reading examines them while the heart rests. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80.
Diet is a major driver of high blood pressure, with salty foods and low-potassium diets connected to hypertension. Other lifestyle choices play a part, too, including drinking and smoking. The CDC says heredity also likely plays some role in hypertension risk.
For people who have hypertension, limiting high-risk foods and behaviors, taking medication recommended by doctors, and regularly monitoring their blood pressure with a cuff can prevent more severe incidents.
Read on to see the counties in Alabama with the highest rates of hypertension.
#25. Bibb County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 39.6%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 26.1% (65.8% of those with high blood pressure)
JNix // Shutterstock
3 / 26#24. Pike County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 40.0%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 27.0% (67.4% of those with high blood pressure)
JNix // Shutterstock
4 / 26#23. Chambers County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 40.6% (#193 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 27.3% (67.3% of those with high blood pressure)
JNix // Shutterstock
5 / 26John H. Davis // Shutterstock
6 / 26#21. Russell County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 41.3% (#152 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 27.8% (67.3% of those with high blood pressure)
#20. Talladega County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 41.5% (#144 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 28.0% (67.4% of those with high blood pressure)
JNix // Shutterstock
8 / 26#19. Pickens County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 41.6% (#139 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 28.0% (67.4% of those with high blood pressure)
#18. Montgomery County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 41.6% (#139 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 28.2% (67.9% of those with high blood pressure)
#17. Clarke County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 41.8% (#132 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 28.5% (68.2% of those with high blood pressure)
You may also like: Counties with the most veterans in Alabama
#16. Monroe County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 42.0% (#127 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 28.4% (67.5% of those with high blood pressure)
JNix // Shutterstock
12 / 26#15. Butler County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 42.0% (#127 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 28.6% (68.0% of those with high blood pressure)
#14. Escambia County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 42.2% (#113 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 28.2% (66.9% of those with high blood pressure)
#13. Choctaw County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 42.5% (#107 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 28.7% (67.5% of those with high blood pressure)
#11. Marengo County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 43.4% (#76 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 29.8% (68.7% of those with high blood pressure)
JNix // Shutterstock
17 / 26#10. Barbour County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 44.3% (#57 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 30.3% (68.4% of those with high blood pressure)
Leah G Moloney // Shutterstock
18 / 26#9. Hale County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 44.9% (#49 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 30.9% (68.9% of those with high blood pressure)
#8. Dallas County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 45.7% (#35 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 32.1% (70.3% of those with high blood pressure)
Mccallk69 // Shutterstock
20 / 26#7. Macon County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 46.8% (#28 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 32.8% (70.0% of those with high blood pressure)
You may also like: Highest-rated stouts in Alabama
#6. Sumter County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 47.4% (#25 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 33.6% (70.9% of those with high blood pressure)
Carolyn May Wright // Shutterstock
22 / 26#5. Lowndes County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 47.7% (#21 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 33.7% (70.6% of those with high blood pressure)
#4. Wilcox County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 48.0% (#18 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 33.7% (70.2% of those with high blood pressure)
#3. Bullock County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 48.9% (#14 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 34.4% (70.3% of those with high blood pressure)
#2. Perry County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 49.0% (#13 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 35.0% (71.5% of those with high blood pressure)
You may also like: Counties with the oldest homes in Alabama
#1. Greene County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 50.7% (#8 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 36.6% (72.1% of those with high blood pressure)
This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 49 states.
