Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is when the force of blood hitting the artery
wall is too high. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) 45% of Americans have hypertension, while 54% of African Americans (A.A.) have it. There aren’t any universal facts that explain this disparity, but some research has cited the following:
- African Americans naturally have higher blood pressures than other ethnicities, this can lead to an earlier onset of hypertension.
- Obesity is a factor of hypertension in general, but it is also an issue in the A.A. community, especially in women.
Treatments for hypertension are the same across the board: medication, exercise, and being aware of the ingredients of the food you eat. Professionals could help with these disparities by studying hypertension, and other diseases, from an ethnicity standpoint. With the help of the A.A. community and medical professionals, the crippling effect this disease has on the community and other communities of color can be resolved.
All eligible Trilogy employees should complete their biometric screening in 2021. Blood pressure is the number one disease state within Trilogy. If you have high blood pressure, 130/80 and greater, talk to your doctor or a TrilogyFIT team member today!
