African American testing blood pressure

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Photography: 
Kittipong33

Extremely high blood pressure that can lead to strokes, heart attacks, and kidney damage—known as hypertensive emergency—is five times higher among African Americans living in inner cities than the national average. A study appearing in Blood Pressure, co-led by Irina Benenson SN’13,’16, an assistant professor at the School of Nursing, also noted that African Americans already have the highest rates of high blood pressure, known as hypertension, which they develop earlier than other racial-ethnic groups. The study determined the prevalence and risk factors of high blood pressure escalating to severe cases among African Americans—and how to reduce it.