HYPERTENSION IN African-AmericanS
The questions regarding all aspects of life of African-Americans is a matter of curiosity and resultant scientific interest within the people of America, and there is a resultant interest in their health on that account. This is probably the major reason behind the study of hypertension among them, and the latest reasons that are shown may reflect some of the causes of this hypertension at the door of the other section of Americans.
There has been research conduced recently at Stanford University School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis along with others, who conducted a study on hypertension among African-Americans. This was the first in its line application of a new statistical method of analysis and it has identified regions on chromosomes 6 and 21 in their DNA which are likely to contain genes that result in the high blood pressure that is found among them. Hypertension is quite common in United States and it is estimated that there are 65 million victims of the disease, yet, statistically it is found more often among African-Americans. They suffer, in general, from more and earlier originating severe hypertension and this often results in their death from stroke, heart diseases and kidney failure. The researchers studied at the distribution of 269 genetic markers within the genome of each of the three groups that they studied. Then the victims of hypertension among the African-Americans were compared with other African-Americans who do not have the problem, and it was found that the victims had a greater chance of having the markers. These markers are of types that resemble the African types of people more. (Hypertension in African-Americans linked to two genomic regions)
There have been no follow up studies regarding the victims of these diseases as to whether they also had accompanying social situations which could have forced them in order to lead lives which is filled up with tension,...
It is important to note that while the results of the study are considered to be interesting, in order to come to any final level of conclusion; all other possibilities have to be readily eliminated. That is really a very long and time consuming process and the announcements of results in between lead to more interest in the work, and possibly led to more advantageous situations for the researchers. The style of research which was followed by Madame Curie, who was the only scientist to have collected two Nobel awards for her research are gone, as also the sincerity that it has required.
The situation is serious and about 4 in 10 African-Americans suffer from heart disease and a high 13% of them also have diabetes. Statistically it has been seen that about 32% of the patients on dialysis due to kidney failure are African-Americans. This has led to a situation now where the experts are suggesting that health care providers take three immediate steps to manage high blood pressure among the African-Americans. The first suggestion is to start patients on two medicines immediately so that the high blood pressure is lowered. The second suggestion is to aim for a lower target blood pressure of 130 and 80 mm of Hg for the African-Americans who have high blood pressure along with other diseases like heart diseases, kidney disorders or diabetes. This is expected to control the problem better. The third and final suggestion is to slow down the progress of kidney disease among African-Americans with diabetes along with hypertensive kidney diseases. (Experts urge more aggressive treatment of hypertension in African-Americans)
The kidney problems may be of the type like ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers. This should be considered in the combination of medicines that is prescribed for them. The matter is serious and has been published as recommendations in the March 10, 2003 edition of the Archives of…
