On the Pulse: Hypertension in Delaware

Essence Forbes Awareness, Hypertension, Research

Hypertension in Delaware

Hypertension is more than numbers on a machine – it is a reality for millions of people in the United States, including thousands of our own Delaware residents. From the bustling streets of Wilmington to the quiet back roads of Laural, hypertension quietly affects us all in some shape or form. 

 

And as with many other chronic conditions that can be found here, some communities are more heavily affected than others. That is why we are taking a deeper dive into the disease also known as the “silent killer”. This post is going to delve into:

  • What is hypertension and who is at risk?
  • How is hypertension affecting Delawarians by age and geography?
  • How this can connected to the bigger picture: Public Health 

 

This is not to scare you but to educate, empower and make the change!

 

First, We’ll Start with an Overview

According to the CDC, blood pressure is the force in which your blood is pushing against your arteries. Throughout the day, blood pressure fluxates in accordance to environmental and internal stimuli. However, high blood pressure or hypertension is when the pressure that the blood is moving through the arteries are consistently high causing the heart to work harder to move blood throughout the body. 

 

The American College of Cardiolgy catorgorized hypertension in adults in two stages:

  • Stage 1 Hypertension is a systolic pressure between 130 – 139 mmHg or a diastolic pressure between 80 – 89 mmHg
  • Stage 2 Hypertension is a systolic pressure greater than 140 mmHg or a diastolic pressure greater than 90 mmHg.

 

Roughly 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 worldwide are reported to have hypertension. In the United States, hypertension was responsible for over 650,000 deaths in 2023. What makes hypertension so dangerous is that is puts indviduals at higher risk for:

  • Stroke
    • Hemorrahgic 
    • Ischemic
  • Cardiovascular Issues
    • Heart Failure
    • Heart Attack
    • Chest pains, known as angina 
  • Kidney Damage or Kidney Failure
  • Vision Loss and;
  • Dementia

As mentioned before, hypertension is also known by the monikor “silent killer”. This is because many people may not feel any symptoms until it unfortunately causes serious harm.

 

A Statewide Snapshot: Hypertension in Delaware

As of 2019, there has been a distinct increase in hypertension rates with an increase with age.

 

Age Group Hypertension Prevelance
18 – 24 12.6%
45 – 64 39.6%
65+ 61.3%

 

Why Where you Live Matters:

While the statewide data paints an important image, when digging deeper the county-level data offers a deeper insight. 

  • Sussex county shows a higher prevalence of hypertension, espeically in the older population
  • New Castle County Kent county trail close behind but still report high prevalence rates

 

County Hypertension Prevalence (all adults aged 18-65, 2019)
New Castle County 36.1%
Kent County 37.8%
Sussex County 39.4%

This is important to note because there are factors associated with each of these counties that affect the prevalence of this chronic condition:

  • New Castle County is the most populous of the counties which means there is a strong hospital and primary care prevalence. However, there are urban disparites that create issues in recieving proper care:
    • Income inequality
    • Housing
    • Food insecurity
  • Kent County has a higher rural population although there is a mix of suburban communities. Much of the population faces having to travel long distances to see specialists thus increasing the odds of severe hypertension-related complications. 
  • Sussex county faces the issues of both access inequity as well as age-related increase in hypertension prevalence. Sussex has the oldest median age of the three thus many of the population have an increased incidence of chronic condtions. Addtiontally there is still that inaccess to specialist care. 

Strive for a Healthier Delaware: What You Can Do

For Individuals & Families:

  • Check your blood pressure regularly – at home, the pharmacy, or a wellness visit
  • Eat more whole foods – vegetables, lean proteins, low-sodium options
  • Get moving – aim for 30 minutes of activity 5x a week
  • Cut back on sodium and processed foods
  • Take prescribed medications consistently
  • Manage stress with mindfulness, therapy, or community support

For Communities:

  • Support screening events and blood pressure clinics
  • Share educational resources and stories
  • Advocate for safe places to walk, bike, and play
  • Promote policies that support healthy food access in every zip code 

Interested in supporting heart health?

There are Heart Walks happening within Delaware with proceeds from the events going directly to the American Heart Association. The Heart Walk for Delaware are:

2025 Wilmington Heart Walk
Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park
Sunday, September 7, 2025

2025 Southern Delaware Heart Walk
Rehoboth Beach Bandstand
Sunday, November 2, 2025

For more information please visit the American Heart Association.

When we understand hypertension—where it’s hitting hardest, and why—we can intervene earlier, design better programs, and help Delawareans live longer, healthier lives.

It starts with awareness. It continues with small actions that ripple through families and communities.

 

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