A major health problem for Black people is high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure is particularly common among Black folks. You can have high blood pressure for years without a single symptom. Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels. Although a few people with early-stage high blood pressure may have dull headaches, dizzy spells or a few more nosebleeds than normal, these signs and symptoms typically don't occur until high blood pressure has reached an advanced and possibly life-threatening stage. But, in this case silence is not golden, it can kill.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke and kidney failure. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be easily detected. And once you know you have high blood pressure, you can work with your doctor and change some habits to control it. You should ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading at least every two years. He or she may recommend more frequent readings if you have high blood pressure or other risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Almost all high blood pressure cases have no identifiable cause. It tends to develop gradually over many years. Certain medications, including birth control pills, cold remedies, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription drugs, may cause high blood pressure. Various illicit drugs, including cocaine and amphetamines, also can increase blood pressure.
The risk of high blood pressure increases as you get older. If you don't have high blood pressure by age 55, you have a 90 percent chance of developing it at some point in your life. Women are more likely to develop high blood pressure after menopause. It often develops at an earlier age in Blacks and Hispanics than it does in Whites. Serious complications, such as stroke and heart attack, also are more common in Blacks. High blood pressure tends to run in families.
Other risk factors for high blood pressure are within your control. Excess weight. The greater your body mass, the more blood you need to supply oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. Inactivity. People who are inactive tend to have higher heart rates. The higher your heart rate, the harder your heart must work with each contraction. Tobacco use. The chemicals in tobacco can damage the lining of your artery walls, which promotes narrowing of the arteries. Salt intake. Too much salt in your diet can lead to fluid retention and increased blood pressure. Low potassium intake. Potassium helps balance the amount of salt in your cells. If you don't consume or retain enough potassium, you may accumulate too much salt in your blood. Excessive alcohol. Over time, heavy drinking can damage your heart. Stress. High levels of stress can lead to a temporary but dramatic increase in blood pressure. If you try to relax by eating more, using tobacco or drinking alcohol, you may only fuel problems with high blood pressure.
Other conditions also may increase your risk of high blood pressure, including high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease and sleep apnea. Sometimes pregnancy contributes to high blood pressure.
Studies of adults who worked more than 40 or 50 hours a week, particularly clerical and unskilled workers were more likely to have high blood pressure than were those who worked 40 hours or less a week. Researchers tied the higher risk for workers with longer hours to unhealthy eating, less exercise, more stress and less sleep.
The latest blood pressure guidelines, issued in 2003 by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, divide blood pressure measurements into four general categories:
Normal blood pressure. Your blood pressure is normal if it's below 120/80, but some data indicate that 115/75 should be the gold standard. Once blood pressure rises above 115/75 the risk of cardiovascular disease begins to increase.
High blood pressure falls into different categories:
Prehypertension. Prehypertension is a systolic pressure ranging from 120 to 139 or a diastolic pressure ranging from 80 to 89. Within four years of being diagnosed with prehypertension, nearly one in three adults ages 35 to 64 and nearly one in two adults age 65 or older progress to definite high blood pressure.
Stage 1 hypertension. Stage 1 hypertension is a systolic pressure ranging from 140 to 159 or a diastolic pressure ranging from 90 to 99.
Stage 2 hypertension. The most severe hypertension, stage 2 hypertension is a systolic pressure of 160 or higher or a diastolic pressure of 100 or higher. There are thousands of people walking around daily with condition without even knowing it and they are at a risk of stroke or heart attack at any minute.
A single high blood pressure reading usually isn't enough for a diagnosis. Because blood pressure normally varies throughout the day, and sometimes specifically during visits to the doctor, diagnosis is based on more than one reading taken on more than one occasion. Your doctor may ask you to record your blood pressure at home and at work to provide additional information.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to damage to your arteries, heart failure (heart attack), a blocked or ruptured blood vessel in your brain (which leads to stroke), weakened and narrowed blood vessels in your kidneys, thickened, narrowed or torn blood vessels in the eyes (which can result in blindness), and uncontrolled high blood pressure also may affect your ability to think, remember and learn. Memory loss and dementia are more common in people who have high blood pressure.
Blood pressure goals aren't the same for everyone. Although everyone should strive for blood pressure readings below 140/90, doctors recommend lower readings for people with certain conditions.
Changing your lifestyle can go a long way toward controlling high blood pressure. But sometimes lifestyle changes aren't enough. In addition to diet and exercise, your doctor may recommend medication to lower your blood pressure. Which category of medication your doctor prescribes depends on your stage of high blood pressure and whether you also have other medical conditions. To reduce the number of doses you need a day, which can reduce side effects, your doctor may prescribe a combination of low-dose medications rather than larger doses of one single drug. In fact, two or more blood pressure drugs often work better than one. Sometimes finding the most effective medication is a matter of trial and error.
Lifestyle changes can help you control and prevent high blood pressure even if you're taking blood pressure medication. Here's what you can do:
Eat healthy foods. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy foods. Get plenty of potassium, which can help prevent and control high blood pressure. Eat less saturated fat and total fat. Limit the amount of sodium in your diet.
Maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight, losing even 5 pounds can lower your blood pressure.
Increase physical activity. Regular physical activity can help lower your blood pressure and keep your weight under control. Strive for at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day.
Limit alcohol. Even if you're healthy, alcohol can raise your blood pressure. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation — up to one drink a day for women, two drinks a day for men.
Don't smoke. Tobacco injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries.
Manage stress. Reduce stress as much as possible. Practice healthy coping techniques, such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing. Getting plenty of sleep can help, too.
Practice slow, deep breathing.
One unconfirmed and ancient Chinese remedy for high blood pressure is celery juice, which can be made with a blender or a juicer. Two to three 8 oz glasses a day for a month can help prevent high blood pressure or restore it to normal. Additionally, celery is known to prevent gout and other arthritic conditions. Studies have found that this stalk is packed with over a dozen anti-inflammatory agents, including apigenin, a cox2-inhibiting compound similar to some anti-inflammatory drugs. It doesn’t hurt to try it, you may get the benefits without the side effects!
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