Latinos Likely Worse Off From High Blood Pressure

By Hope Gillette, Saludify

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, now affects 30 percent of people in the United States, said health officials from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) on Thursday. The number of individuals affected by the condition has increased by approximately 10 percent since 2005, now encompassing nearly one-third of the U.S. population.

While the CDC report indicated non-Hispanic blacks and non-Hispanic Asians had some of the highest numbers in the self-reported data, the elderly, women and low-income individuals were also disproportionately affected.

According to the Urban Institute, the most recent census data indicates the majority of families living in poverty are minorities, with Hispanics making up the largest portion at 30 percent.

At the time of the census data, that number equaled approximately 4 million Hispanics who fell into the low-income category and, according to recent CDC information, could have higher numbers when it comes to high blood pressure.

In general, the Office of Minority Health indicates Hispanics tend to have a lower risk for high blood pressure compared to non-Hispanic whites; however, despite a slightly lower rate of occurrence, Hispanics fare worse when it comes to hypertension awareness, treatment and control.

“Many factors contribute to hypertension,” Fleetwood Loustalot, a researcher at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, toldHealthDay News. “What we are really concerned about as well is that people who have high blood pressure are getting treated. Only about half of those with hypertension have it controlled. Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to negative health consequences like heart attacks and strokes.”

Heart attacks and strokes are among the top 5 health issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, with diabetes—a contributing factor to hypertension—following closely behind.

“Improving awareness, treatment and control of blood pressure is vital to reduce the risk for heart disease and stroke,” said to HealthDay Dr. Gregg Fonarow, a spokesman for the American Heart Association and professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles. “All adult men and women should be aware of their blood pressure levels and, if elevated, ensure appropriate treatment.”

Regular blood pressure screening is important, states theAmerican Heart Association, because high blood pressure can be a relatively asymptomatic disease.  Ignoring testing recommendations, especially for at-risk groups, can mean serious health complications down the road.When symptoms do appear, you may experience:

• Facial flushing
• Nervousness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Severe headaches (usually only during a hypertensive crisis)
• Nose bleeds (usually only in hypertensive crisis)

Contrary to popular myths, headaches are not a reliable indicator of high blood pressure, and usually only occur if hypertension has reached life-threatening levels.

What does blood pressure tell you about your health? Find out more

This article was first published in Saludify.

Hope Gillette is an award winning author and novelist. She has been active in the veterinary industry for over 10 years, and her experience extends from exotic animal care to equine sports massage.

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