African American Hypertension Research Paper

Among minorities such as Asians, Hispanics, Indians, Native Americans, and Middle Easterners, the African American race has been affected tremendously by the health disparities in the United States. Currently, African Americans have significantly higher mortality rates from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, unintentional injuries, pregnancy, sudden infant death syndrome, and homicide than do whites Americans (Fiscella & Williams, 2004). While African Americans may lead in these categories, other minorities are not far behind in experiencing health disparities.

Blood pressure measurements on adult males 30-39 years of age were obtained in a survey of a representative sample of Twin Cities households. To compare the frequency of hypertension in the white and non-white population surveyed, the most appropriate measure is the

According to the office of the minority health, approximately 48% of African American women and 44% of African American men suffer from some form of the cardiovascular disease which includes heart disease and stroke and adults are 40 percent more likely to have high blood pressure while the women are 1.6 times more likely to die from heart diseases and complications than other ethnic groups (The Office of Minority Health, 2016).

Among the different ethnic and socioeconomic groups, each is associated with health disadvantages. While some have more advantages than others, the most disadvantaged groups are among the Blacks and Native Americans. These two groups have the highest rates of several health disparities. The two groups, Blacks, and Native Americans have the highest rates in infant mortality and cardiovascular disease. Research has shown several key risk factors that are associated with these high rates. Some include poor environment, lack of access to care, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and high blood pressure. These health disparities and disadvantages are what causes Blacks and Native Americans to have higher mortality rates.

In today’s society, there are many different factors that can contribute to one’s overall health and well-being. Since there are so many different factors that can affect one’s health, there are inequalities that exist among people and this is knows as health disparity. "Health disparities are differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States” (Nhlbi.nih.gov, 2015). Health disparities can be associated with factors such as: socioeconomic status, education, gender, race, ethnicity, age, mental health, and religion. There are certain health problems that can affect different groups more than others, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS (Surgeongeneral.gov, 2015). One example of a specific population in the United States that is affected by health disparities is the African American Population. While African Americans are affected by various health disparities, one that affects this population more prominently is heart disease.

“At age 65, white men in the highest-income families can expect to live 3.1 years longer than white men in the lowest-income families” (Tischler 383). Life expectancies varies among racial groups due to different leading causes of death in each race and the different incomes available to a group. According to several studies, African Americans are at a greater risk of dying from heart disease than whites, while whites are at a greater risk than Asians, Latinos, and Native Americans. Large racial and ethnic disparities exist in health due to poverty rates, diet, biological differences, and location. On a greater scale, minority groups tend to have less of an income than whites, which affect the type of medical care available for them. Also, dietary habits varies among racial groups. The African American culture consists of generally fattening food dating to centuries ago and is still persistent today. A Latino diet consists of beans, grains, and other less fattening foods. However, currently many of these racial groups begin to adapt to American diets that worsen their

African Americans are twice as likely to die of an illness such as cancer and heart disease as well as, less likely to have health access compared to any other race. African Americans are yet subject to racial discrimination and stereotypes in the health care, that leads them without the correct health screenings and treatments. The root of these racial disparities connects with the intersectionality of race, class, gender and education.

The American Medical Journal explains that the heart disease is one of the deadliest medical conditions. Medical experts reckon that heart disease is a lifestyle disease, which emanates from excessive consumption of the wrong dietary combination. Foods such as fats and carbohydrates often expose individuals to the threat of heart disease. Consuming fast foods from McDonalds also expose people to the threat of heart disease. The most plausible means of mitigating the risk of contacting heart disease is by observing dietary combination. Individuals must keep a balanced diet always in order to avoid dietary concerns later on in life. The most common symptoms include chest discomfort, nausea, trouble sleeping, breathing problems, and unusual tiredness.

“CDC has reported previously on geographic trends and health disparities related to heart disease mortality in Women and Heart Disease: An Atlas of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mortality (2000) and Men and Heart Disease: An Atlas of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mortality (2001). The Atlas of Heart Disease Hospitalizations Among Medicare Beneficiaries is the first publication to document geographic and racial disparities in heart disease hospitalizations” (CDC, 2013).

Within the contemporary generation today, many fundamental factors such as social, environmental, biological and epigenetics play significant roles towards understanding the connection between humans and their health. For example, race-based health disparities can be witnessed within society especially considering different health related diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke etc (Kuzawa and Sweet 2). Furthermore, prior to reading the article, Epigenetics and the Embodiment of Race: Developmental Origins of US Racial Disparities in Cardiovascular Health I was quite unfamiliar with the concept of health disparity within the racial norm of the society. For instance, an African American man in Harlem is less likely than

At the point when contrasted with whites, these minority bunches have higher rate of endless ailment, higher mortality and poor wellbeing results. Among the ailment particular cases of racial and ethnic variations in the united state is the tumor frequency rate among African Americans, which is 10% higher than among whites. Furthermore, grown up African Americans and Latinos have roughly double the danger as whites of creating diabetes. Minority likewise have higher rate of cardiovascular sickness, HIV/AIDS, newborn child mortality than whites.

Hypertension is a major health condition which affects many Americans. This health condition may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. A normal blood pressure consists of systolic blood pressure divided by diastolic blood pressure, 120/80mmHg (millimeters of mercury). High blood pressure is defined as systolic pressure which is greater than 140mm Hg, and diastolic pressure which is over 90mm Hg. Hypertension influences the health outcomes of black Americans more than other races in the United States. Racial discrimination and socioeconomic status are two major factors which influence the rate of high blood pressure in the black American population.

Hypertension (HTN) is a major public health issue affecting 70 million African-American males in the United States (CDC,2015) and predisposing them to cardiovascular diseases (Scranton, Goldstein, & Stecher, 2013). The WHO (2013) defines HTN as a systolic blood pressure of equal or greater than 140 mm/Hg or a diastolic blood pressure of equal or greater than 90 mm/ Hg. In addition, a large portion of patient’s diagnosed with HTN also have a diagnosis of erectile dysfunction (ED), both of which when left untreated can have a negative impact on quality of life. ED has been defined by Adebusoye et al., (2012), the lack of sufficient sexual intercourse due to inability of a penile erection in male. Compounding the high incidence of HTN and ED among African-American males, is the problem of non-adherence to prescribed anti-hypertensive medications. Real or perceived ED associated with the adverse side effects of anti-hypertensive medications is a chief reason for non-adherence to anti-hypertensive medications among males (Kakkavas et al., 2013). This research study will use The Health Belief Model to investigate the correlation between African-American males with dual diagnoses’ of HTN and ED who are non-adherent to anti-hypertensive medications. More specifically, this study will scrutinize the adverse side effects of anti-hypertensive medications in relation to complications of untreated HTN, one of which is ED. The results of this study could be used to educate

Factors that contribute to hypertension are age, ethnicity, gender, and lifestyles as shown in Figure 1 (Yoon, Burt, Louis, & Carroll, 2012). While the prevalence of hypertension is relatively equal among men and women, certain ethnicities have a higher propensity for developing hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension in African-Americans is among the highest in the United States for a single ethnic group (Ferdinand & Armani, 2007). In the United States, around 78% of people suffering from hypertension are aware of their condition, with only 68% using hypertensive medications to control their blood

High blood pressure (HBP) is amongst one of the most prevalent chronic illnesses in the United States today. The MOC has created the survey to monitor the growing number of patients that can and are facing this issue in the community of Gainesville, as it can lead to other cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks, heart failure and strokes.