African American Hypertension

African Americans are known to struggle with hypertension more than any other race. The social problem described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) stated, African American men are more likely to have high blood pressure than whites, Hispanics, or Mexican American men and are more likely to be known as having high blood pressure. This difference steadily persists over time, from approximately 1988 through 2006 (pg.12). Studies have consistently reported a higher frequency of hypertension in blacks than in whites. In relations to these studies as mentioned by Fuchs (2011), There is a long list of putative causes for this higher prevalence proposes that the real reasons African Americans are rated higher with hypertension issues are still unknown. Biological differences are viewed in the mechanisms of blood pressure control or in the environment and habits of whites and blacks are named as the potential causes. Socioeconomic status plays a part in the outcomes of health and wellness and is measured mainly by health behaviors (education), health status (income), and health inequities. Income has been identified as a crucial factor affecting

The Million Hearts Campaign mentioned in The Summit County Community Health Improvement Plan from 2015, reports heart disease and stroke as the first and fourth leading causes of death in Ohio, respectively (Summit County Public Health website, 2016). The statistics for Ohio are comparable to the Summit County findings in regards to higher incidence among black communities. Black men have a stroke mortality rate that is 38% greater than any other population in the state (Summit County Public Health website, 2016). Interestingly, this disparity was consistent with Healthy People 2010 review findings, that minority and low income communities were behind the reference point related to heart disease. With high blood pressure being a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke, the research has shown that controlling hypertension is harder for the black population. There is not clear evidence to explain why the black population is at higher risk, but it is suggested that genetics and environmental factors play a

Moulton, S. A. (2009). Hypertension in African Americans and Its Related Chronic Diseases. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 165 - 170.

As late as about seven decades ago, elevated blood pressure was considered by many expert physicians to be necessary for the adequate perfusion of vital organs. It was deemed as an unavoidable, hence essential, component of the aging process leading to the coining of the term “essential hypertension”. High blood pressure (BP) was considered as probable natural and necessary compensatory phenomenon that should be left alone even if there were effective treatments (Hay, 1931; White, 1937). This notion was further strengthened by the observed elevated misery and premature death recorded for the patients that were treated for hypertension with the few drugs that were available at the time compared to those that were left untreated (Goldring,

American Heart Association quotes that Hypertension is an important public-health challenge worldwide. Importance should be focused on its detection, treatment control and prevention. The infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis which once were the reasons for leading the causes of deaths have been replaced by non –infectious diseases which are mostly the NCD’s such as diabetes, heart diseases, and other vascular conditions. Hypertension is an important worldwide public-health challenge because of its high frequency and concomitant risks of cardiovascular and kidney disease [78][79]. Heart attacks and strokes are major–but preventable–killers worldwide. More than 80% of cardiovascular disease related deaths take place in low-and

The problem of hypertension is growingly becoming a major reason for worldwide mortality and morbidity. The problem may not be externally visible in a person who is suffering from it but internally it can cause stroke, cardiac failure and kidney problems. It has been predicted by experts that the number of people suffering from hypertension will grow by 60 percent by the year 2025 and the major risk factors linked to the problem are diabetes and obesity. Although the condition is globally prevalent and intense research are being made into it, no signal cure or effective treatment can be found which can protect body from hypertension without having any side effects. Exercise to reduce hypertension and herbal pills to reduce hypertension offer the best and risk free ways to regulate the condition.

Community health promotion is very important to reduce the rates of mortality and morbidity that arises mainly from chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia. For this community project we chose the city of Columbus, Mississippi. The rate of hypertension is extremely high in the state of Mississippi; therefore, we decide to choose that as a topic. For the purpose of this discussion, I will be focusing on health promotion topic we selected, various barriers affecting the community health outcomes and what resources are already in place or we can use to decrease those risk factors.

The pathophysiology of hypertension (HTN) is best explained clearly if you have an understanding of how blood pressure (BP) works in the body. BP is seen as the function of both cardiac output (CO) in the human system and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Cardiac output (CO) is made up of both heart rate (HR) and stroke volume (SV). SV in turn depends on contractility and preload of the system. SVR relies on contractility and afterload. There is literature that supports molecular and cellular levels relating to effects on blood pressure in terms of genetic make-up. Changes in any of these processes have the ability to alter CO or SVR, causing BP alteration and HTN.

Hypertension is a chronic condition that affects an immense amount of people across different ages, genders, ethnicities, and health statuses. With 65 million diagnosed individuals in the US, it is the most common patient motivation to visit a physician and accounts for the largest number of prescriptions written in the country.1,2 Risk factors for disease development include unpreventable circumstances such as age and genetics in addition to modifiable behaviors such as obesity, dietary sodium intake, and physical inactivity.2 Attributing a single causative agent to hypertension poses a challenge as arterial pressure is a stem from which multiple physiologic functions and systems branch. While most documented cases (more than 95%) are

Hypertension is the most chronic medical condition that adults have. This disease affects many organs of the body including the heart, eyes, and kidney. Hypertension can increase with age, weight, and inheritance. Generally, the hypertensive population is increasing but physicians are working on various treatments to prevent and control this disease. Prescription drugs in the United States are highest to adults with hypertension than any other medical cause. Studies show that the

Hypertension is categorized according to its causes. Hypertension of uncertain cause is diagnosed as Primary or Essential Hypertension which is in 95% of the people with hypertension. A great many factors influence blood pressure and cause it to be clinically high in some individual. Primary hypertension is related to genetic and environmental factors, but precise reasons and the interplay is not known. Another classification of hypertension is called Secondary Hypertension, results from identified and correctable causes. Only about 5% to 10% of hypertension cases are thought to

In classical essential hypertension both the systolic and diastolic blood pressures are high, but isolated systolic and isolated diastolic hypertension are also seen. Malignant or accelerated hypertension is associated with a rapid rise in arterial pressure and, if untreated, results in rapid end-organ damage and death(3). Obesity-related hypertension is an important public health issue. As the prevalence of obesity increases, the prevalence of hypertension with its associated CV risk will increase as well. (4)

Hypertension has been a prevalent chronic disease that has affected so many Americans. There has been approximately 35% of people who are not aware of their hypertension status (Lauziere, Chevarie, Poirier, Utzschneider, & Belanger, 2013). Hypertension has been linked to other diseases such as dementia, cardiovascular, renal and eye disease (Lauziere, Chevarie, Poirier, Utzschneider, & Belanger, 2013). Hypertension can be caused by high sodium intake, high alcohol consumption, low levels of physical activity, obesity, and smoking that could lead to complications (Lauziere, Chevarie, Poirier, Utzschneider, & Belanger, 2013). Patients who are non-adherence to the BP medications are contributing to inadequate HTN control. As a future nurse practitioner,

P.B., a sixty-three year old Caucasian female, has a diagnosis of hypertension. She was diagnosed in 1997, at the age of forty-seven, when her blood pressure was approximately 180/110; with this high of blood pressure, P.B. was in Stage 3, primary hypertension (Sommers, M., Johnson, S., & Beery, T., 2010). Hypertension may be classified as primary of secondary. Primary hypertension is a chronic disorder in which the blood pressure increases overtime. It does not need another disease to be present and there is not an exact known cause, however there are both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. Non-modifiable risk factors are things that cannot be controlled such as gender, race and family

According to Cheriyan, Mceniey, and Wilikinson (2010) investigation and treatments for hypertension still remains a challenge. Hypertension is leading risk factor of cardiovascular disease. Hypertension also called high blood pressure is a common condition in which blood flows through arteries at higher than normal pressure. Normal blood pressure for adults is described as a systolic pressure below 120 mmHg and a diastolic pressure of below 80 mmHg. It is also believed that there’s a global epidemic of yet unknown proportions due to the abnormally elevated blood pressures are often asympathetic (Lip & Nadar, 2009). Majority of the people don’t know they have hypertension due to the fact that it has no actual causes of symptoms. Hypertension is also a highly widespread factor for cardiovascular disease in patients with type 1 diabetes (Shalaby &Shalaby, 2015). Hypertension also typically affects 10% of pregnancies in the United States.