Research Paper on Hypertension Among the Non-Hispanic African Americans

Introduction

The non-Hispanic African American females and males have the highest prevalence and longer duration of hypertension among the USA population. The rate is as high as 40% among this population (Gillespie, 2013). Various theories have been put in place to explain this, which include the higher rate of obesity and diabetes in African Americans causing hypertension (American Heart Association, 2016). It has also been found that for African-American hypertension occurs at a younger age that is usually very serious. The reasons for the high levels among the African American are not defined, but researchers suggested that this population has a gene that makes them so salt sensitive in that a little amount of salt causes high blood pressures. The other factor that has been suspected as a possible cause is the socioeconomic situation of most African American.

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The social disparities for the African American men and women are shocking when compared to the other racial groups in the United States. Despite the fact that in the recent past there has been considerable effort to get rid of health disparities, the reduction efforts have focused on realigning health services when it comes to the African Americans individuals (Fletecher et al., 2012). The problem of health disparities continue to exist, and this has greatly influenced the high rate of hypertension recorded among the African Americans in the US. The African American men and women have been left behind in the social considerations.

Research programs concerning the African Americans' health mostly concentrate on individual health for instance exercise and diet Fletcher et al., 2012). Although to some extent the health of an individual is dependent on the health behavior of the individuals, it is of at most significance to point out those social factors puts minorities such as the African American men and women at a disadvantageous position in health and disease matters. The African Americans undergo numerous difficult experiences as compared to the other groups. Also, the African American men and women are not sufficiently served as compared to the other groups in the US concerning access to quality healthcare (Gillespie et al., 2013). This, therefore, has contributed enormously to their poor outcomes and therefore record the highest number of hypertension. Therefore, the health behavior of the African Americans shows the disparities that exist in the health sector favors the other groups more than the African Americans.

Racial discrimination is an important consideration in explaining the life of African American men and women. The African Americans in the United States must always face racism, for instance, institutional racism such as schools and hospital (Fletcher et al., 2012). Because of their black color, institutional offering health services tend to concentrate on the white people and therefore the blacks, majority of which are the African American, have to fight for themselves. This has led to the African American population vulnerable to diseases such hypertension.

Incarceration also plays a vital role in explaining the life of an African American in the US. Discrimination and lack of access to opportunities such as employment and access to education have made the African American men and women left with minimal life options (American Heart Association, 2006). For example, in educational institutions, the number of African American students who get expelled or suspended is higher as compared to students from other ethnic groups. Due police biases and injustice in prosecution institutions, the number of African American who are arrested, taken to court and prosecuted is very high as compared to individuals from other ethnic groups. There is a connection between stress and health status in that it causes stress and therefore poor health results. Therefore, incarceration of the African American men and women greatly influence their health conditions leading to diseases such hypertension.

From the preceding discussions, healthcare is a very important contributor to an individual's health. To ensure that the African American men and women have improved health care social environment, policies must be put in place (Gillespie et al., 2013). For example, considering labor, systems should be strengthened to eliminate inhibitors of equal opportunities for all ethnic groups and making sure that a common procedure is adopted for employment opportunities. In the education sector, barriers to equal access to education should be removed, and common programs are adopted in all educational institution at the same level. This should entail hauling the education system to level the disparities and biases in the allocation of funds (Fletcher et al., 2012). Also, issues of criminal unfairness should be addressed in that systems to curb biases in the prosecution institutions and police departments should be put in place and ensuring that there exists a sentencing guideline that applies for all individuals regardless of the race or ethnic group one comes from.

The specific social justice theory that will be used to explicitly examine the prevalence of hypertension among the non-Hispanic African-American males and females, in the USA is the capability social justice approach. This theory is centered on two claims. The first one asserts that the freedom to realize health or wellbeing is considered being of prime moral significance. The second claim is that the wellbeing is centered on the capabilities of the people, specifically the opportunities for them to do what they consider of value (Crocker et al., 2008).Despite a general decrease in the number of Adult Americans dying as a result of Cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, the disparities along race-ethnic perspective have not improved.The death rate as a result of hypertension among the Non-Hispanic African Americans has not reduced significantly over the last few decades. According to a research conducted in 2009, the deaths associated with hypertension or related coronary complications among the Non-Hispanic African Americans contributed to 66% of the total deaths while in Non-Hispanic Whites, the percentage was 43 %( American Heart Association, 2016).

One of the key factors identified as contributing to this undesirable trend is a common gene historically associated with the non-Hispanic African Americans (Gillespie et al.,2013).As a result of this genetic composition, these group of Americans is sensitive to excessive consumption of salt in their diets. This has translated to a high number of adult males and females of the non-Hispanic origin having more threat to threat of hypertension than the other parties. However, this assertion that there exist some genetic differences between different races has been challenged by some medical researchers (Gillespie et al., 2018).Apart from these historical and genetic concerns the social-economic status (SES) has also played a role in the increasing number of non-Hispanic African Americans falling victims of hypertension. However, some of the studies on hypertension have disputed the idea that socioeconomic status factors have contributed to hypertension among the adult Americans. Nevertheless, most studies have found a big correlation between low socioeconomic status and high blood pressure (American Heart Association, 2016).The main socio-economic status aspects identified as most common to hypertension victims were low income, low levels of education and occupation levels.

Health barriers contributing to hypertension can also be a major cause of the prevalence of hypertension in the non-Hispanic Black Americans. These range from the lack of awareness on the importance of the blood pressure tests, ignorance and self-prescription of antihypertensive dose (Fletcher et al., 2012).All these are predominantly high among the non-Hispanic African Americans. Medical researchers have proved that up to 50% could reduce the number of deaths due to hypertension among the non-Hispanic African Americans by enhancing the population's awareness on the disease and also ensuring early medical examinations (Fletcher et al., 2012).

Urban and rural living has also been found to have some bearing on the extent of prevalence of hypertension. People living in rural areas are less likely to have hypertension, compared to those living in urban areas. The model developed by medical researchers show that urban life is associated with more 'stress' and hence the higher number of people living with hypertension. (American Heart Association,2016).Although it is a common factor cutting through all the races, its effect on the non-Hispanic African Americans is higher since there is a combination of other risks also affecting them.

The American Heart Association is one of the key institutions with a huge mandate in fighting and keeping the prevalence of hypertension at manageable levels. This association, through research and relevant studies, set out the national guideline for managing all related heart disorders. The American Heart Association has recently defined high blood pressure e as one of 130/80mm Hg after research conducted by the institution showed that, among the non-Hispanic African Americans, health problems as a result of hypertension could start at blood pressures slightly above 120/80mm Hg (American Heart Association, 2016).This institution has great potential to utilize resources in the research to fix the puzzle of socioeconomic status that has elicited different opinions between

Hypertension is one of the leading killer diseases among the American people and in general the whole world. A multi-agency approach is required to mitigate this life-threatening problem, whose effects have been devastating so far (Fletcher et al., 2012). The uniqueness of this medical condition, in perspective, that it has little symptoms make it a delicate affair for all medical practitioners and researchers. About 30% of Americans have this high blood pressure condition (Gillespie et al., 2013). This translates to a ratio of one in every three American citizens suffering from hypertension. To manage and keep this condition in check, the first step is changing one's lifestyle and the diet. Studies have shown a direct correlation between obesity and high blood pressure (Gillespie et al., 2013). Obesity is mostly as a result of poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle. Therefore, change in lifestyle and diet can be a good step towards a healthy heart.

Increase in the activity level of the body regarding exercises has also proved an effective means of controlling or managing hypertension. Studies have shown the adults who do exercises more frequently were at lower risk of suffering from high blood pressure than those who do not exercise at all. Most researchers assert that increased body activity and exercise levels significantly improve the hearts' pumping rate and hence its capacity and strength. Other intervention measures to check hypertension are stopping smoking and reduction of excess stress. Studies have shown that Smoking can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure and pulse rate (Fletcher et al., 2012). However, in the long-term, these effects may lead to the development of a permanent hypertension problem.

Recommendations

The non-Hispanic African American citizen's high prevalence of hypertension poses medical researchers with a puzzle to establish in definitive terms the exact reason underlying this trend. To date, leave along the prevalence of hypertension to some sections of the population, scientists have not been able to give the exact cause of hypertension in human beings. However, Government agencies involved in managing hypertension should invest more in the research on the...