February is Black History Month. All across the United States, there are festivals and educational events celebrating Black history and remembering some of the amazing people who have shaped our history. However, you don’t need to go to any formal event but instead just have a conversation with an elderly friend, relative or neighbor. Once you get them talking their memory turns back in time and vivid details of the early and mid-1900s come alive. I know I’ve learned more from my relatives then I could have ever picked up in a history book.
Within specific segments of the population, you’ll find amazing things to celebrate, different dialects and cultural traditions. However, certain groups also have specific diseases that have a genetic basis and are passed down from family to family. For example, Crohn’s disease is much more common in people of Jewish heritage. When it comes to people of African descent – hypertension (high blood pressure) is a common issue. According to the American Heart Association, more than 40% of African Americans have high blood pressure. And, it can go unnoticed unless you get frequent checkups.
High blood pressure basically means it takes increased pressure for the blood to flow through your arteries. Though your body can handle temporary increases in blood pressure, prolonged high blood pressure can damage your artery walls, strain your heart and increase your risk for stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure.
So what should you do if you are of African decent? First, get your blood pressure checked regularly. It’s easy and just takes a minute or two. If your blood pressure is high (above 120/80 mmHg), talk to your doctor. And, work on quitting smoking if you are a smoker, lose weight if you are overweight, exercise (under a doctor’s okay), and watch the sodium in your diet. By making some of these changes you may be able to lower your blood pressure on your own.