Counties with the highest rates of high blood pressure in Tennessee

Emma Rubin // Stacker

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 Tennessee with the highest rates of hypertension.

State-level statistics
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 36.5%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 22.9% (62.7% of those with high blood pressure)

#25. Benton County
SevenMaps // Shutterstock

- Adults with high blood pressure: 36.7%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.1% (63.0% of those with high blood pressure)

#24. Tipton County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 36.7%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.5% (64.1% of those with high blood pressure)

#23. McNairy County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 36.8%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 22.9% (62.3% of those with high blood pressure)

#22. Sequatchie County
SevenMaps // Shutterstock

- Adults with high blood pressure: 36.8%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.3% (63.4% of those with high blood pressure)

#21. Chester County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 36.9%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.4% (63.5% of those with high blood pressure)

#20. Clay County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 36.9%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.6% (64.0% of those with high blood pressure)

#19. Dyer County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 37.0%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.2% (62.8% of those with high blood pressure)

#18. Van Buren County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 37.1%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.1% (62.2% of those with high blood pressure)

#17. Perry County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 37.1%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.3% (62.8% of those with high blood pressure)

#16. Scott County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 37.2%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.5% (63.1% of those with high blood pressure)

#15. Morgan County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 37.2%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.7% (63.7% of those with high blood pressure)

#14. Obion County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 37.3%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.9% (64.0% of those with high blood pressure)

#13. Henderson County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 37.5%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.5% (62.8% of those with high blood pressure)

#12. Fentress County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 37.6%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.7% (62.9% of those with high blood pressure)

#11. Johnson County
Maxine Livingston // Shutterstock

- Adults with high blood pressure: 37.7%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.8% (63.2% of those with high blood pressure)

#10. Bledsoe County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 37.7%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 23.9% (63.4% of those with high blood pressure)

#9. Wayne County
ultramansk // Shutterstock

- Adults with high blood pressure: 38.0%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 24.4% (64.3% of those with high blood pressure)

#8. Gibson County
Dee Browning // Shutterstock

- Adults with high blood pressure: 38.5%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 24.7% (64.1% of those with high blood pressure)

#7. Hancock County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 39.3%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 25.6% (65.2% of those with high blood pressure)

#6. Madison County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 39.5%
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 27.3% (69.0% of those with high blood pressure)

#5. Shelby County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 41.0% (#164 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 27.1% (66.0% of those with high blood pressure)

#4. Lauderdale County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 42.5% (#107 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 27.9% (65.6% of those with high blood pressure)

#3. Lake County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 42.6% (#100 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 28.9% (67.9% of those with high blood pressure)

#2. Haywood County
Canva

- Adults with high blood pressure: 43.1% (#88 highest nationally)
- Adults on medication for high blood pressure: 28.4% (66.0% 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.

#1. Hardeman County
Photo Illustration by Stacker // Canva