Nearly half of U.S. adults — about 120 million people — have high blood pressure. That’s approximately 119.9 million Americans.
Louisiana had the fourth-highest rate of high blood pressure in the country, with 39.9% of adults reporting a diagnosis by a health professional in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, which are the leading and fifth-leading causes of death in the United States.
With nearly 40% of Louisiana adults with a diagnosis of high blood pressure, an average 79% of them take high blood pressure medication. Louisiana is just slightly over the U.S. average for adult with high blood pressure who took medication in 2023 at 78%.
These parishes had the highest percentage of adults with a high blood pressure diagnosis who take high blood pressure medication, in descending order:
Tensas Parish with 85.1%,
Bienville Parish with 82.7%,
Pointe Coupee Parish with 81.8%,
St. Helena and Union parishes with 81.7%,
Claiborne Parish with 81.6%,
Webster Parish with 81.5%,
St. James Parish with 81.4%,
Red River Parish with 81.1%,
and Morehouse Parish with 81%.
These parishes had the lowest percentage of adults with a high blood pressure diagnosis who take high blood pressure medication, in ascending order:
Lincoln Parish with 74%,
Vernon Parish with 74.8%,
LaSalle and Grant parishes with 75.7%,
Livingston Parish with 76.1%,
Allen Parish with 76.2%,
St. Bernard and East Carroll parishes with 76.6%,
Ascension Parish with 76.7%,
Tangipahoa Parish with 77%,
and Beauregard and Lafayette parishes with 77.5%.
