High Blood Pressure and African Americans

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is called the "silent killer." It often strikes its sufferers without them knowing it, and doesn't reveal itself in symptoms until it is too late, resulting in heart disease, kidney failure, or even death if allowed to go untreated. While anyone can get high blood pressure, the disease affects African Americans with far greater frequency and is far more common a killer among them than any other disease. High blood pressure also strikes African Americans at a younger age (hypertension tends to be more prevalent in the elderly among other general population groups) and is far more severe among Afican Americans than any other group in the United States.

According to the NetWellness: Consumer Health Information site, African Americans are 35% more likely to have hypertension, resulting in 20% of deaths, twice the rate of death among their white counterparts. 80% of African Americans who have high blood pressure are likely to have strokes than in any general population in the United States. 20% are more likely to suffer from heart disease related hypertension. African Americans often face greater risks of developing hypertension end stage kidney disease four times the rate of any other general population group.

Hypertension is a serious disease and has serious consequences for those who have it. There are a number of factors which contribute to hypertension in African Americans. They include diabetes, obesity, alcohol use, a poor diet or diets that use too much salt, a history of hypertension in the family, and a sedentary lifestyle. Unfortunately, all of these factors are endemic to many African Americans. Lack of access to health care greatly contributes to this problem as well since many poor African Americans are unable to get their hypertension treated until it is too late.

In order to combat hypertension among African Americans, a health educational campaign that informs potential sufferers of their risks of contracting the disease is needed, one that especially reaches community outreach programs and health clinics.