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New research has underscored the critical importance of early detection and management of high blood pressure among Black women, revealing that those who develop this condition before the age of 35 face a significantly heightened risk of experiencing a stroke – three times higher, in fact. This alarming finding highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the unique health risks faced by Black women.
High Blood Pressure: A Silent Threat for Black Women
According to a study, Black women who were treated for high blood pressure in their 30s and 40s faced a substantially higher risk of having a stroke than their peers without a history of high blood pressure treatment. The research disclosed that Black women under 35 who were treated for high blood pressure had triple the risk of having a stroke, while those who developed the condition before age 45 had double the risk.
Roughly 58% of Black women in the U.S. have high blood pressure, compared to 43% of white women, 38% of Asian women, and 35% of Hispanic women. The research also found that Black women who began treatment for high blood pressure between ages 24 and 34 were three times more likely to have a stroke than those with no history of hypertension.
Why are Black Women More at Risk?
Black women are twice as likely to experience a stroke compared to white women and 50% more likely to have high blood pressure. Factors such as psychosocial stressors, experiences with racial discrimination, and hypertension or onset associated with pregnancy have been related to stroke, specifically among Black women. There is also a genetic factor, lipoprotein (a), that uniquely affects Black people and is rarely being assessed in clinical practice.
The Critical Role of Early Detection and Lifestyle Changes
The study strongly urges Black women to see their doctor and get their risk factors checked early. Lifestyle changes, such as increasing physical exercise, limiting salt intake, and eating healthy foods, can significantly decrease the risk of stroke. Prevention efforts like changes in diet or exercise, quitting smoking, and managing specific risk factors like excess body weight, abnormal blood cholesterol levels, and elevated blood pressure are recommended.
Policy Changes and Targeted Interventions Needed
Health care professionals are urged to pay special attention to high blood pressure screening and treatment over the life course for African American women, such as during childbearing years and both before and at the start of middle age. It is clear that health care policy changes are needed so that primary prevention is promoted and funded. By the time a Black woman has a stroke at middle age, it is often too late. The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated, as early detection and management of high blood pressure can save lives.
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