Everything to know about hypertension in African Americans – Medical News Today
Hypertension is more common in African American people than in those of other racial groups in the United States. People also call this condition high blood pressure.
Hypertension causes the heart to pump blood very forcefully, creating a blood pressure consistently
Hypertension increases the risk of heart disease and some other health concerns. Black people, especially Black men,
It is important to remember that not all African American people are Black, which means that some may not face the systemic racism and other inequities in healthcare that Black Americans do.
At the same time, not all Black people are African American. Some research presents results that are difficult to interpret because it uses these terms interchangeably.
Numerous studies have documented high rates of hypertension in African American people compared with those in other racial groups.
One 2018 study in the
It is important to note that the study sites were only located in Chicago, Birmingham, Oakland, and Minneapolis. For this reason, the results do not represent the entire African American population.
According to the
Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and other serious illnesses.
According to one 2014 article in the
Researchers
These factors include:
It is important to note that some studies specifically look at Black Americans, who are part of a racial group subjected to racism and similar socioeconomic factors. However, Black Americans are a diverse group of people from many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Being Black is a risk factor for developing high blood pressure. Some other risk factors interact with being Black, such as chronic stress related to racism.
These other risk factors for hypertension include:
Having exposure to race-related stress, such as fearing or experiencing racist acts, may also elevate blood pressure.
High blood pressure means that the heart is pumping blood more forcefully than usual.
Hypertension may cause
To diagnose high blood pressure, a doctor uses a blood pressure monitor. They consider a blood pressure reading to be high if it is
Learn more about how to understand blood pressure readings here.
Some people, such as those who get very anxious at doctor’s appointments, may have high blood pressure at their appointment and normal blood pressure at home. This is called white coat hypertension.
When this happens, a doctor may recommend that the person monitors their own blood pressure at home. The person can do this using a home blood pressure monitor.
Some pharmacies, malls, and other locations offer kiosks that a person can use to monitor their own blood pressure at no cost.
However, the
Treatment depends on how high a person’s blood pressure is. In most cases, a doctor
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) recommend additional treatment based on how high a person’s blood pressure is.
There are two stages of high blood pressure: stage 1 high blood pressure and stage 2 high blood pressure.
Having stage 1 high blood pressure means having a top number of 130–139 over a bottom number of 80–89. Only one of these numbers needs to be high for a doctor to consider it high blood pressure.
Having stage 2 high blood pressure means having a top number of 140 or higher over a bottom number of 90 or higher.
According to the guidelines, doctors should prescribe blood pressure medication for people with stage 2 high blood pressure. They may only recommend medication for those with stage 1 hypertension if they have already had a heart attack or stroke or have other risk factors for a serious heart health issue.
The ACC and AHA guidelines also say that it is important for doctors to take socioeconomic and mental health factors, including chronic stress, into consideration when treating hypertension.
Hypertension is a serious medical issue that can increase a person’s risk of developing other chronic diseases. It is also treatable, especially with early diagnosis and intervention.
People who think that they have high blood pressure or have several risk factors for it should contact a doctor to discuss diagnosis and treatment.
Last medically reviewed on March 30, 2021
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