Extension agents encouraging Kansans to monitor blood pressure at home
MANHATTAN, Kan. — A free Kansas State University program aimed at helping residents better understand and manage their blood pressure began as a response to troubling health trends across the state and has since grown into a multi-part community health effort.
The Hypertension Awareness and Prevention program was first proposed in early 2021 as K-State Extension began exploring ways to address chronic disease in Kansas through education and local partnerships, said Stephanie Gutierrez, coordinator of the program.
“We often refer to it as HAPp, but it got started in early 2021 when we were looking at how we could address chronic disease in Kansas in a really meaningful and community-based way,” Gutierrez said.
High blood pressure remains a significant public health concern. Nearly half of U.S. adults — 46.7% — have hypertension. In Kansas, about 34.7% of adults have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, a figure Gutierrez said reflects a broader decline in health over the past several decades.
“Kansas ranks 28th in overall health,” she said. “But in 1991 we were ranking about eight.”
Those statistics highlighted both the severity of the issue and the opportunity for prevention. Gutierrez said hypertension education made sense for Kansas communities, prompting extension leaders to seek out partners and models that could be adapted statewide.
Early momentum came through collaboration with the Office of Women’s Health, which helped K-State Extension become self-measured blood pressure champions. That partnership opened the door to others, including the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association.
KDHE introduced extension to the CDC’s Healthy Heart Ambassador Program, which teaches individuals how to accurately measure blood pressure at home while also emphasizing nutrition and lifestyle changes. Gutierrez said that framework became the foundation of HAPp.
The program launched as a pilot in 2022 at 11 sites and quickly proved successful. From there, it evolved into a four-month signature program offering biweekly coaching sessions, monthly nutrition workshops, stress management strategies and access to electronic blood pressure monitors for home use.
Since then, HAPp has expanded to include HAPp Works, designed for working adults with limited time; and HAPp Now, a one-hour educational session focused on blood pressure basics and prevention.
“All three programs are very inclusive,” Gutierrez said. “You don’t have to have hypertension to learn about hypertension and to prevent it.”
The emphasis on early action mirrors national guidance. Updated blood pressure guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology stress prevention and encourage people to know their numbers before complications arise.
Home monitoring plays a key role. Participants learn how to take accurate readings, track trends and share results with health care providers. Gutierrez said simple factors such as stress, movement or posture can influence readings, making education critical.
K-State Extension agents deliver the program locally and are central to its success. “They are the backbone of the program,” Gutierrez said.
As American Heart Month continues, Gutierrez encourages Kansans to observe National Wear Red Day on Feb. 6 as a way to spark conversations about heart health and hypertension prevention statewide.
More information on HAPp and other ways to live more healthfully is available at local extension offices in Kansas.
