blood pressure risk factors, and health behaviors.
The results were published on October 16, 2019, in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
“Over the study follow-up period, almost half of the participants developed hypertension,” Spruill said in a journal news release. “This highlights the need for new hypertension prevention strategies for African-Americans. Lifestyle change is effective, however, it can be challenging to achieve.”
Spruill said that culturally sensitive stress management interventions may help prevent high blood pressure and reduce subsequent heart risk among Black Americans. But more research is needed first.
“Because this is an observational study, we interpret the findings cautiously. However, our results suggest that evaluating chronic stress over time rather than at a single occasion can help identify those at greatest risk,” she said.
Blacks report higher overall stress levels than whites, the authors noted.
For more information on Black Americans and high blood pressure, visit The American Heart Association.
SOURCE: Journal of the American Heart Association, news release, Oct. 16, 2019
3 Ways To Tackle Hypertension, Starting Now!
There is a strong possibility that each of us knows someone with hypertension or, perhaps, you may have it yourself. Hypertension, which occurs when the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated, is also commonly known as high blood pressure. With the recent recall of several drugs that treat hypertension, many African Americans found themselves scrambling to their medicine cabinets to take a closer look at what was inside.
This vast recall also served as a lynchpin moment for understanding how pervasive hypertension is within Black communities. Disproportionately affected, Black people have a higher propensity for being diagnosed with hypertension.
According to research conducted by the American Heart Association, “The prevalence of high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension) in African-Americans in the United States is among the highest in the world.
More than 40 percent of non-Hispanic African-American men and women have high blood pressure. For African-Americans, high blood pressure also develops earlier in life and is usually more severe.”
Because blood pressure is connected to other bodily functions and the overall health of all major organs, if left undiagnosed or untreated, it can be a precursor for strokes, kidney disease, and