My name is LaChune Price, Physician Assistant Certified. I would like to discuss high blood pressure (hypertension), also known as “The Silent Killer,” most prevalent in African American men. What is high blood pressure (hypertension)? A condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high. Usually, hypertension is defined as blood pressure above 140/90, and is considered severe if the pressure is above 180/120. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. Over time, if untreated, it can cause health conditions, such as heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Education, eating a healthier diet with less salt, exercising regularly, and sometimes taking medications may need to be added to help lower the blood pressure. According to Center Disease Control (CDC), “High blood pressure is more common in non-Hispanic Black adults (54%) than in non-Hispanic white adults (46%), non-Hispanic Asian adults (39%), or Hispanic adults (36%). A heightened response is required due to the disparities in high blood pressure control in African American men.” High blood pressure usually develops over time. It can happen because of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity. Certain health conditions such as diabetes and having obesity, can also increase the risk for developing high blood pressure. High blood pressure can damage your health in many Hypertension "The Silent Killer"
ways. It can seriously hurt important organs like your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes. High blood pressure can cause the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain to burst or be blocked, causing a stroke. Brain cells die during a stroke because they do not get enough oxygen. Stroke can cause serious disabilities in speech, movement, and other basic activities. A stroke can also kill you. Having high blood pressure, especially in midlife, is linked to having poorer cognitive function and dementia later in life. Adults with diabetes, high blood pressure, or both have a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease than those without these conditions. There’s only one way to know if you have high blood pressure: Have a doctor or other health professional measure it. Talk with your health care team about regularly measuring your blood pressure at home, also called self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring. High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because it usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. What can you do to prevent or manage high blood pressure? Many people with high blood pressure can lower their blood pressure into a healthy range or keep their numbers in a healthy range by making lifestyle changes like getting at least 150 minutes if physical activity each week (about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week), not smoking, eating a healthy diet, including limiting sodium (salt) and alcohol, keeping a health weight, and managing stress. I have treated people with high blood pressure (hypertension) for years, but majority of my patients has been African American men and I would like to educate as much as possible to prevent or help manage high blood pressure from being less prevalent in African American men. My clinic is “Price Medical Services Inc” My website is www.pricemedicalserviceinc.com and I can be reach either by text or a phone call at (310) 654-7122.
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