The Nygerian

Hypertension has become a worldwide epidemic; it is estimated that about 29% of the world’s population will have hypertension by the year 2025. In the United States, more than 80 million people live with hypertension, and the disease occurs in a more severe manner amongst African American males. Hypertension is one of the primary risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, and chronic kidney disease. Awareness, prevention, and treatment are essential in controlling this public health epidemic in our community. To help explain what exactly hypertension is, think of your blood vessels as a sophisticated piping system, and the heart as the main pump that feeds all the pipes. These pipes go on to supply oxygen and nutrients to every living tissue in your body. If the pipes, meaning your blood vessels, become clogged or get narrow, your heart must pump extra hard to push blood through the smaller opening. This causes your heart to exert more pressure and force to pump the blood out. “Hyperte…