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 Kansas 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.
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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 Kansas with the highest rates of hypertension.
#25. Wilson County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 33.1%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 20.6% (62.3% of those with high blood pressure)
#24. Crawford County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 33.2%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 20.6% (61.9% of those with high blood pressure)
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4 / 26#23. Seward County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 33.2%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 20.7% (62.4% of those with high blood pressure)
#21. Labette County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 33.3%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 20.7% (62.1% of those with high blood pressure)
#20. Stanton County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 33.3%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 20.7% (62.2% of those with high blood pressure)
#19. Pawnee County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 33.3%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 20.7% (62.3% of those with high blood pressure)
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9 / 26#18. Finney County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 33.5%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 20.7% (61.8% of those with high blood pressure)
#17. Ellsworth County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 33.7%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 20.8% (61.6% of those with high blood pressure)
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#16. Graham County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 33.7%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 21.0% (62.2% of those with high blood pressure)
#15. Allen County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 33.9%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 21.3% (62.7% of those with high blood pressure)
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13 / 26#14. Brown County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 34.1%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 21.1% (61.9% of those with high blood pressure)
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14 / 26#13. Harper County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 34.2%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 21.3% (62.2% of those with high blood pressure)
#11. Elk County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 34.3%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 21.1% (61.6% of those with high blood pressure)
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17 / 26#10. Reno County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 34.4%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 21.1% (61.2% of those with high blood pressure)
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18 / 26#9. Barton County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 34.4%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 21.4% (62.2% of those with high blood pressure)
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19 / 26#8. Atchison County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 34.7%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 21.4% (61.7% of those with high blood pressure)
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20 / 26#7. Chautauqua County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 34.7%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 21.4% (61.7% of those with high blood pressure)
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21 / 26#6. Ford County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 34.7%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 21.7% (62.6% of those with high blood pressure)
#5. Montgomery County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 35.0%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 21.5% (61.3% of those with high blood pressure)
#4. Cherokee County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 35.2%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 21.9% (62.2% of those with high blood pressure)
#3. Geary County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 36.4%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 22.9% (62.9% of those with high blood pressure)
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26 / 26#1. Wyandotte County
- Adults with high blood pressure: 37.6%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.9% (63.6% 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.
