This article is part ofHealth Divide: Heart Disease Risk Factors, a destination in our Health Divide series.
Over time, the heart must work harder and harder to overcome this pressure until it eventually gives out.
This article addresses howhigh blood pressure increases heart disease riskin Black people.
Zoe Hansen / Verywell
What Is Considered High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure consistently above 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) is considered high.
This is compared to 54.5% of White men and 40% of White women.
High blood pressure is one of the most common causes ofheart disease in the Black community.
An Integrative Treatment Approach
High blood pressure is something you’re able to treat.
Below are treatment options for high blood pressure that you could discuss with your healthcare provider.
Therefore, Black Americans with stage 1 hypertension are generally started on a thiazide diuretic or calcium channel blockers.
Why some drugs are more or less effective in some racial and ethnic groups remains a mystery.
Stress Management
Chronic stress can damage your heart over time.
Like high blood pressure, it is a silent killer in and of itself.
Summary
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease in Black people.
Of note, Latinx and non-Latinx Asians (NHA) have lower rates than both groups.
This can lead to poor high blood pressure control.
Two places Black people can find Black providers areBlackdoctor.organdFindABlackDoctor.com.
Putting off care in search of finding the perfect Black provider is never recommended.
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Mensah GA.Commentary: hypertension phenotypes: the many faces of a silent killer.Ethn Dis.
2019;29(4):545-548. doi:10.18865/ed.29.4.545
Office of Minority Health.Heart disease and African Americans.
2016;5(11).
doi:10.1161/circoutcomes.116.003166
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.High blood pressure risk factors.
2018;71(6).
American Heart Association.Managing stress to control high blood pressure.
