31 Alarming High Blood Pressure Statistics & Facts for 2024
April 23, 2021
It’s high time we extended the knowledge of a highly common condition with the latest high blood pressure statistics.
Perhaps, the trickiest thing about hypertension is that it typically does not manifest itself in apparent symptoms. Keep in mind that, if it’s not diagnosed and treated, high blood pressure may put one at the risk of many illnesses and diseases, including heart failure, dementia, and even chronic kidney disease.
Top 10 High Blood Pressure Statistics for 2024
Crucial Hypertension Statistics
The upcoming section notes the high blood pressure prevalence. It also offers information on the number of people with this condition, as well as provides forecasts based on hypertension statistics worldwide from 2019 and 2020.
[visualizer id=”97984″]
Source: CDC
1. Globally, 1.13 billion people suffer from hypertension.
(MedScape) (WHO)
Statistics on high blood pressure from 2019 forecast that the prevalence will increase to approximately 29% by 2025. It has also been noted that this rise is primarily driven by the increase in nations with a developing economy.
2. In 2010, 31.5% of adults in low- and middle-income countries had hypertension.
(NCBI)
Hypertension statistics by country found that individuals from high-income countries are slightly less likely to suffer from hypertension than individuals from low- and middle-income countries. To be more precise, 1.04 billion people who had hypertension lived in low- and middle-income countries, whereas 28.5%, or 349 million people with high blood pressure, lived in high-income countries.
3. About 50% of hypertension cases are associated with an unhealthy diet.
(WH League)
Hypertension numbers are often linked to unhealthy eating habits. Namely, about 30% of cases are related to increased salt consumption, and around 20% are associated with low dietary potassium—low intake of fruit and vegetables.
If eating healthy poses a real challenge, we suggest that you consult your healthcare provider. Thankfully, making necessary changes is more than possible nowadays, with numerous aids, such as meal replacement shakes or appetite suppressants, at our disposal.
4. There were 154 hypertension-related deaths per 100,000 Puerto Ricans in 2002.
(NBC News)
Hypertension statistics emphasize that Puerto Ricans have a much greater death rate compared to Blacks, Whites, or other Hispanic American citizens. In addition, Mexican-Americans’ death rate was 134.5, and Cuban-Americans’—82.5.
5. Nearly two-thirds of people over 60 have high blood pressure—one of the risk factors for COVID-19.
(WebMD)
If you have hypertension, make sure you take even more care of yourself during the pandemic. To put it another way, high blood pressure facts affirm that people with hypertension and other health conditions are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection.
6. About 30%–50% of the people hospitalized due to COVID-19 have hypertension.
(WebMD)
Statistics on hypertension reported by the US and China affirm that the condition not only increases the risk of infection but it also causes further complications. Some of the other risk factors include diabetes, cancer, or lung disease.
7. People with hypertension have a two-fold higher chance of dying from COVID-19.
(ESC)
The European Heart Journal has published a study conducted by researchers and professors Ling Tao and Fei Li from Xijing Hospital. The study’s hypertension mortality rates pointed out that 4% of the participants with high blood pressure died because of the pandemic, compared to 1.1% of those without hypertension.
High Blood Pressure Statistics in the US
Read the following section to uncover the percentage of adults in the US who are unaware they have hypertension, the number of people who have prehypertension and hypertension, the number of men who suffer from this condition compared to that of women, and more.
Percent of Adults With Hypertension by State in 2019 (Rounded)
[visualizer id=”97975″ lazy]
Source: State of Childhood Obesity
8. Around 20% of adults in the US are unaware of having high blood pressure.
(AMGF) (Healthline)
What makes hypertension extremely dangerous is that there are usually no apparent high blood pressure symptoms. However, it’s essential to look out for signs such as headaches, nosebleeds, confusion, dizziness, chest pain, nausea, and vomiting. Following the frequent lack of symptoms, according to hypertension stats, the condition is known as the “silent killer.”
9. Nearly 59 million US adults have prehypertension, putting them at a high risk of high blood pressure.
(WebMD)
Prehypertension occurs when the systolic reading is between 120 and 139 mmHg or when the diastolic reading is between 80 and 89 mmHg, based on a blood pressure chart. In short, prehypertension is defined as a vital warning sign that an individual may develop high blood pressure if left untreated.
10. It is estimated that around 108 million people in the US suffer from high blood pressure.
(CDC)
Hypertension is a common illness affecting adults and children of all ages and genders. According to blood pressure statistics, around 45% of the adult population in the US has high blood pressure. In other words, almost half of the adult population deals with this chronic medical condition.
11. Every year, around 655,000 Americans die from heart disease.
(CDC) (Mayo Clinic)
Cardiovascular disease, a condition that involves the narrowing or blocking of blood vessels in the body, leads to having a heart attack, stroke, and chest pain. It’s also the leading cause of death in the US. Based on the CDC’s blood pressure stats, more than half a million Americans die from heart disease each year. In fact, one in every four deaths in the US is associated with cardiovascular disease.
12. In the US, hypertension affects around 40.8 million men and 44.9 million women.
(MedScape) (Health Management)
Research on the prevalence of hypertension in the US found that it is virtually the same for men and women. Also, before the age of 50, hypertension rates are lower in women than men, and after 50, these rates are higher in women.
13. High blood pressure numbers in pregnancy remark an astounding prevalence in the US—one in 12–17 pregnancies.
(CDC) (ACOG)
A person has gestational hypertension when their systolic blood pressure is 140 mmHg or higher, and/or their diastolic blood pressure is 90 mmHg or higher. Gestational hypertension usually causes a slight increase in blood pressure. However, some people experience severe hypertension, with dangerously high blood pressure numbers. In other words, that’s the systolic blood pressure of 160 mmHg or higher and/or 110 mmHg or higher diastolic blood pressure.
To add, these high blood pressure numbers during pregnancy cause very severe complications. So this is when medical alert systems may come in handy, should an expectant parent need help. Even though the numbers for high blood pressure in pregnancies have been increasing, on the positive side, this can be prevented if pregnant individuals control their blood pressure regularly.
Costs of Hypertension Statistics
Now, let’s look into the financial side of things. Read on to find out the expenses of people with hypertension compared to those of the general population, costs of medications and care services, forecasts of the future costs, and much more.
14. Individuals who suffer from hypertension face around $2,500 more in annual healthcare expenditures.
(CDC)
As high blood pressure and stroke statistics have confirmed, hypertension is a key risk factor for stroke and heart disease. That translates into high blood pressure being one of the most expensive health conditions. To enumerate, yearly expenditures for people with this condition go up to $2,500 more compared to those without the condition. Furthermore, around 650 million prescriptions for hypertension are filled every year, accounting for $29 billion in total spending, with $3.4 billion paid directly by patients.
15. Every year, Americans with hypertension pay at least $131 billion in health care services and medications.
(HHS)
High blood pressure statistics remark that, annually, people with high blood pressure pay somewhere between $131 billion and $198 billion. Those are covering total medical costs, including medication and health care. What’s more, data shows that people who also have diabetes pay over $4,000 more per year.
16. Reducing the sodium intake from 3,300 mg to 2,300 mg daily may save $18 billion in health care costs.
(Harvard Health) (AMGF)
With the fast-food industry still on the rise in the US, more and more people live unhealthy, sedentary lives. And junk food is full of unnecessary sodium, which increases the prevalence of hypertension. Stats on high blood pressure show that if overall sodium intake was reduced in the US, it could prevent over 11 million high blood pressure cases each year.
17. The annual direct costs for hypertension are estimated to increase between 2010 and 2030.
(AMGF)
To be more specific, stats on hypertension estimate that, compared to 2010, the annual expenditures will increase by $130.4 billion until 2030. In total, the projected yearly cost will then be around $200.3 billion.
Hypertension and Race Statistics
Race often comes into play with chronic health conditions, and hypertension is no exception. Read on to learn which race is more affected and when they develop the condition.
18. About 45.7% of Black women suffer from high blood pressure.
(Georgia DPH) (Heart)
Research has found that the prevalence of high blood pressure in non-Hispanic Black adults is the highest in the world, with more than 40% in both men and women. More precisely, high blood pressure statistics show that 43% of Black men have hypertension.
19. Blacks are more likely to get hypertension earlier in life than other demographics.
(Heart)
Hypertension statistics by race show that this medical condition is much more severe in Blacks than others. Some of the theories that may explain the high rates of hypertension among this group deal with obesity and diabetes, as well as the fact that Blacks may have a gene that makes them more likely to be sensitive to salt.
20. Among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, 9.7% of men and 8.4% of women have hypertension.
(The Cleveland Observer) (MedScape)
According to high blood pressure stats, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders boast the lowest hypertension rates. In comparison, South Asians have an increased CHD risk, presumably linked to the metabolic syndrome explained by insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and obesity in the United States.
Hypertension Stats for Children and Adolescents
This section uncovers information about how hypertension is diagnosed in children and teens, the percentage of the youth suffering from hypertension, as well as prehypertension, the prevalence of the two conditions among adolescent boys, and more.
21. The APP guidelines define high blood pressure for children and teens as 130/80 or higher.
(Heart)
Children and teens can develop high blood pressure as well. In fact, if blood pressure reads at or above the 95th percentile in kids aged 12 and under, it’s defined as high blood pressure numbers. As for healthy blood pressure, a normal reading is the one below the 90th percentile for younger children and the one below 120/80 for teenagers.
22. Around 2.6% of the youth in the US suffer from hypertension.
(CDC)
Note that the CDC uses the new guideline that sets a lower threshold for high blood pressure. That explains the increase in numbers. According to the CDC hypertension statistics and facts, around half of those newly reclassified have obesity. Another interesting finding states that males account for two-thirds of the increase, while the youth aged 18 to 19 account for about half of it.
23. 10% of the youth in the US aged 12–19 have prehypertension.
(CDC)
The same study by the CDC also found that about one in ten of these young individuals has elevated blood pressure or prehypertension. To put it another way, in a classroom of 30 young students, one is likely to suffer from hypertension, and around three more students will have elevated levels of blood pressure.
24. The prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension is over 30% in obese adolescent boys.
(AAFP)
According to important statistics of hypertension, the greatest risk factor of prehypertension and hypertension in children is being overweight or obese. A study has found that the combined prevalence of both conditions in obese adolescents is greater than 30% in boys and around 23%–30% in girls. Furthermore, the study also notes that hypertension in childhood is associated with hypertension in adulthood, as well as premature death.
25. 80% of children with secondary hypertension have a blood vessel abnormality or a kidney disease.
(Boston Children’s Hospital)
Secondary hypertension, also called secondary high blood pressure, is high blood pressure due to another medical condition, as proved by hypertension facts. More than three-quarters of the children with secondary hypertension also suffer from kidney disease or blood vessel abnormalities. Furthermore, premature infants are more prone to hypertension, and it occurs exceptionally frequently due to a secondary cause.
26. At least 5% of children with secondary hypertension suffer from an endocrinological disorder.
(NCBI)
Critical and interesting facts about high blood pressure claim that a small percentage of the causes of secondary hypertension in children is connected to endocrinological disorders. These can include primary aldosteronism, Cushing’s syndrome, hypo- and hyperthyroidism, and pheochromocytoma.
27. 2%–5% of children with secondary hypertension have heart disease.
(Boston Children’s Hospital) (Purdue)
In the US, an individual dies of cardiovascular disease every 38 seconds, on average, and there are 2,300 deaths each day. That is to say, hypertension and high cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia, can cause stroke, heart disease, and heart attack. Furthermore, facts about blood pressure indicate that very young children are more prone to secondary hypertension than primary hypertension.
28. It’s estimated that the heritability of hypertension is 30%–50%.
(UpToDate)
Even though many people would assume that hypertension is exclusively a side-effect of poor lifestyle choices, many high blood pressure statistics have uncovered that the condition may also be a genetic trait. Furthermore, studies have found evidence that the genes that lead to hypertension are 2.4 times more frequent in patients who have two parents with hypertension.
High Blood Pressure: Facts and Myths
Despite high blood pressure being common among all demographics, countless myths still surround this chronic health condition. Let’s dismantle some of them by acquainting ourselves with the most accurate data there is.
29. Myth: consulting with a professional and getting treatment doesn’t work.
(WebMD)
Facts about high blood pressure inform that many people are discouraged from reaching out to a professional for help and much-needed treatment as they expect that the treatment won’t always deliver positive results. However, to reap the benefits, a patient must get regular check-ups, stay on track with their treatment plan, and reduce sodium intake.
30. Myth: eliminating table salt from your diet is enough to control hypertension.
(Heart)
Many people falsely believe not using table salt when in the kitchen will suffice. However, facts about sodium and high blood pressure verify that an increasing number of people fail to check labels on products.
In fact, much of the sodium we consume daily (around three-quarters) is hidden in canned and processed staples. Experts urge people to read the labels when shopping and to avoid food items containing the terms “soda” and “sodium,” as well as the symbol “Na.”
31. Myth: high blood pressure can’t be prevented.
(WebMD)
Facts about hypertension suggest that chronic medical condition can be prevented in time by implementing some crucial steps. These include keeping your weight at a healthy level, incorporating more whole foods full of nutrients into the diet, eliminating calorie-dense junk food that’s high in sugar and salt, limiting sodium intake, limiting alcohol consumption, working out daily, and quitting smoking.
Conclusion
High blood pressure is one of the most prevalent both in the US and worldwide, according to high blood pressure statistics. The high prevalence of hypertension presents a public health challenge that can be addressed with a healthier lifestyle, weight management, frequent physical activity, and the restriction of sodium, alcohol, and smoking altogether.
Given that, you have to make sure you keep track of your health; for example, using appetite suppressants might help you lose weight. Hopefully, by making fundamental changes in diet, exercise, and stress management, we will see a notable decline in these rates in the near
FAQs
What causes high blood pressure?
Experts have not found the exact causes of high blood pressure, but several risk factors may play a significant role in developing the disease. One of the most frequent causes of hypertension, especially in adults, is smoking and excessive stress.
Furthermore, being overweight (or obese), not getting any daily exercise, and following a diet high in sodium may also increase the risk of unhealthy blood pressure levels. Working out, eating a well-balanced diet, and making better lifestyle choices may help individuals suffering from hypertension.
What percentage of the population has high blood pressure?
The latest data indicates that around 1.13 billion people, or 14% of the global population, have high blood pressure. Unfortunately, fewer than one in five people has their condition under control. So if you detect even slightly high blood pressure numbers, make sure you pay a visit to your doctor. If left undiagnosed and untreated, the condition can bring about many illnesses and diseases.
Which race has the highest rate of high blood pressure?
Hypertension is most common in non-Hispanic Black adults. Then, right behind them are non-Hispanic White adults, Hispanic adults, and non-Hispanic Asian adults, as per hypertension demographics. Interestingly, of those recommended to take medication for their condition, blood pressure control is the highest among non-Hispanic White adults.
Can you feel when your blood pressure is high?
As mentioned earlier, people may live with high blood pressure without knowing they have it for a long time. Even though hypertension often does not show any symptoms, some of the most usual symptoms include headaches and dizziness. The not-so-common ones are chest pain, difficulty breathing, nosebleeds, tiredness, and nausea.
What country has the highest blood pressure levels?
Africa has the highest rates of high blood pressure. In fact, the World Health Organization’s high blood pressure statistics point out that the rate of hypertension is around 46% of adult individuals of both genders in Africa.
List of Sources:
About the Author
Related Posts
Related Posts
