AHA: 75% of Blacks likely to develop high blood pressure at age 55

Nine in ten people with high blood pressure can control it, but half do not have it. Brandpoint Photo

DALLAS, TX – About 75% of black men and women are likely to develop high blood pressure at age 55, compared to 55% of white men and 40% of white women of the same age, According to the researchers identified 3,890 participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Risk Study in young adults who enrolled in the study. between the ages of 18 and 30 without hypertension, defined as systolic / diastolic blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg or greater who were not taking medication to control blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks, heart failure and stroke. The researchers found that at age 55:

• 75.5% of black men, 75.7% of black women, 54.5% of white men and 40% of women white have developed high blood pressure.

Body weight was badociated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, regardless of race or gender, and those who followed the DASH-style diet, both blacks and whites, had a lower risk d & # 39; hypertension. DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets are rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, fish, poultry, beans, seeds and nuts with low or no fat content and limited in red meat and salt.

blood pressure levels in young adults, blacks have a significantly higher risk of developing high blood pressure compared to whites up to age 55, "said S. Justin Thomas, Ph.D. ., Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. "It is urgent that health professionals advise young patients, especially blacks, to eat healthily, safely and effectively. be physically active and control their body weight.The risk of high blood pressure can be significantly reduced with a healthy lifestyle. "

In the American Heart Association / American College of Cardiology, published in 2017, the threshold of stage 1 arterial hypertension changed to 130 mmHg or higher for the higher number or 80 mmHg or more for the lower number.The previous threshold for high blood pressure was equal to or greater than 140/90 mmHg The researchers used the new definition of high blood pressure in their badysis.

"Since the definition of hypertension has been recently lowered, it is expected that more young African-American adults will have high blood pressure" "It is important to note that most High blood pressure can be prevented through lifestyle changes, "said Willie E. Lawrence Jr. MD, spokesperson for the American Heart Association and Chief of Cardiology at Research Medical Center from Kansas City. , Missouri. "We need to encourage all young people, especially the most at-risk African-American youth, to think about their future health and make choices that will change these statistics."

Co-authors: John Booth III, Ph. RE .; Chen Dai, MS .; Xuelin Li, Ph.D .; Norrina Allen, Ph.D .; David Calhoun, M.D .; April Carson, Ph.D., M.S.P.H .; Samuel Gidding, M.D .; Cora Lewis, M.D., M.S.P.H .; James Shikany, Dr.P.H .; Daichi Shimbo, M.D .; Stephen Sidney, M.D., M.P.H .; and Paul Muntner, Ph.D. Authors have not reported any conflict of interest.

The National Institute of the Heart, Lungs and Blood and the American Heart Association supported the study.

Ongoing Blood Pressure Assessment Sessions

• Braddock Free Clinic

412-723-2086

• Bedford Dwellings, Hill District

• Allentown Seniors Center

• Community Wellness Center, Propel Schools Hazelwood

For more information, contact

AHA Pittsburgh office-412-208-3556

Like us on https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pittsburgh- Courrier / 143866755628836? Ref = hl

Follow @NewPghCourier on Twitter https://twitter.com/NewPghCourier

Also on the New Pittsburgh Courier: