Last week I became another statistic in the African American community. On Saturday I started taking prescribed medications for high blood pressure. A routine check up last December revealed a 150/101 blood pressure (normal is 120/70). My doctor had me lie down on the table and relax a few minutes before taking it again. 150/90. Still too high.
He sent me to the lab for some tests. They showed that in every other category I was healthy – cholesterol great, liver and kidney functions no problems, hormones normal, etc. He gave me a month to try to get it down, to relax.
I went back last week and my initial reading was 190/90. Lie-down-and-relax reading was 180/90. I walked out with two prescriptions, one for a diuretic and the other a “low dose” blood pressure pill. How long do I have to take them? Probably forever.
I’m a 45 year old, African American woman and heart disease is the leading cause of death for me. Two in five African Americans have high blood pressure, one in five Hispanics and one in six Asians (CDC statistics).
My mother, most of my aunts and both of my grandmothers all received a high blood pressure diagnosis at some point in their lives. Obesity, diabetes, high salt/fat diets, smoking and lack of exercise also run in my family. There is a hereditary factor and a race component to heart disease and high blood pressure but somehow I thought I had broken the generational curse.
It doesn’t seem fair. I quit smoking about ten years ago, I exercise five days a week. I eat a whole wheat, low sugar diet. Yet here I am, among the statistics, taking the medications and suffering the consequences. Okay, so it’s not completely my relatives fault. I could lose a few pounds. I could lower the stress in my life by getting eight hours every night. I could go salt free. But still, it doesn’t seem fair.
Wear red in February
I’m not sure how I feel about all of this. Angry. Frustrated. Helpless. Frightened. All of the above and more. Thank you for allowing me to vent. Now on to something constructive.
A reminder: February is American Heart Month. The purpose is to raise funds and awareness about heart disease — which is the number one killer in America. Check out the American Heart Assciation for information on how you can help and learn more about heart health.
Do you know your blood pressure? Does heart disease run in your family? Why do you think heart disease is so prevalent in the African American community? Any suggestions for me as I struggle to accept my new diagnosis? Let’s talk…
#1 by Cecelia at February 8th, 2010
Join the club!!! Runs in my family…
#2 by Jenifer at February 8th, 2010
mine was 210/110 about 11 years ago. i have been on a beta blocker ever since. i think high blood pressure in any race is a killer if it is untreated. treated is different. at first i was freaked out and thought it was a death sentence. however, my twin sister was diagnosed at 32 (age 63 like me) and is still kicking. also my daughter and her son have it even though they are both in great shape. called familiar hypertension, genetic garbage. but the meds for life keep us alive in the body a lot longer so i am gonna take it!!
#3 by Margo at February 8th, 2010
Angela, I believe there are some foods that are great for high blood pressure…can’t remember though..mine is low.
#4 by Diane at February 8th, 2010
I too have HBP…I am now over weight. but I have had HBP since I was in my late twenties when I used to exercise, eat right and my weight was perfect. All of my other blood work ups are fine…I am healthy. I have been on diuretics and bp meds for years and it is under control and has been for years. I will be on meds for the rest of my life … See Morejust like my mother who also suffers from high bp as well as her mother. In our family obesity is not a factor and my mother is very active and eats right, my grandmother up until she died was active and ate right and all of us have been told that it is just in our genes…it is scary and frustrativng…Oh yeah, I am one of the hispanic statistics….
#5 by Jenifer at February 8th, 2010
garlic is awesome for bp
#6 by Angela at February 8th, 2010
I agree Jenifer, gotta treat it. I can’t imagine 11+ years on meds though. I guess you get used to it and do what you have to do.
#7 by Angela at February 8th, 2010
Thanks everyone for giving me some perspective, this hit me harder than I expected once l looked at the stats. Not exactly a club I wanted to join but…
#8 by Shelly at February 9th, 2010
Angela, I would much rather know I have Hypertension then not, it is called the silent killer for a reason and often people walk around without knowing they are having it. Usually an elevated BP x3 visits would cause for the diagnosis HOWEVER, just two weeks ago I sent a white woman to the ER with a BP of 210/100, no symptoms. My advise, monitor your BP daily on your own to make sure the medicine is keeping within normal ranges. Don’t rely on visits every so often to make sure things are okay.
#9 by Sonia at February 9th, 2010
Angela, this happened to me earlier in 09. I had to get my medicine switched - the one I was on gave me chest pains. My doc was kinda snotty about it and said if you still have problems, I won’t be switching you again, I’ll send you to a cardiologist. Fortunately, the new med is wonderful, no side effects at all and my blood pressure is really good on it too. Be your own advocate and listen to your body. Love ya!
#10 by Angela at February 9th, 2010
Thanks Shelly and Sonia for the advice but I only started the meds on Saturday. I have to give my doc props on this one. I didn’t want to take the meds at all and begged for another solution, that’s why he ran all the tests and gave me a month. So far with the meds I’m a little dizzy. Doc said to give my body ten days to adjust so I will. He seemed willing to work with me because he knows how much I hate taking meds.
#11 by Courtney Cherest at February 10th, 2010
thanks for the awareness! I appreciate it.
I never really thought about that diagnosis and the tremendous effect it would have on one’s life…I just prayed for you…
see you Sunday…
Courtney