You Are Not Destined to Have High Blood Pressure Because You’re Black.
I recently went to the doctor and found out I had hypertension. Shit.
A lot of people on my paternal side have it; my sister, dad, aunt, great aunt, grandmother and more that I can’t recall. The only difference was that I was 10 years older then all of them before I was diagnosed. I asked the nurse practitioner what I could do to course correct. I was in a battle with co-vid weight gain that I assumed was a likely contributing factor and was running through gym locations in my mind as we were talking.
She told me in a very calm in loving way, “you’re predisposed to it because your black. We don’t know why that is but it just is”. I had heard this before from my family and other health professionals but I was still confused by this statement. In my first year of university I was forced to take social science, settled on sociology and in was that class I learned about the difference between race, ethnicity and genetics. They are not interchangeable nor should they be especially in the field of medicine. When I put this understanding up against my program major in global heath, I quickly realized that race had no place in medicine based on it’s definition. The American Psychologocal Association defines race as “a socially defined concept sometimes used to designate a portion, or subdivision, of the human population with common physical characteristics.”
Professor, Author and Advocate Dorothy Roberts explains, “Race is not a biological category that determines health. It is a social category that has profound biological consequences because of inequality.”
The nurse may have been referring to genetics because how could race, a social construct infer that I would have hypertension?
I wondered how many other people whose skin resembled mine she had told this to. It was definitely told to my father and grandmother because they both casually mentioned it throughout my life. ‘‘You can’t avoid it” they would say. This too would happen to me because I was Black. Between this and my fibroids (which I also had because I was Black) could make a person feel like being Black was a deficit. I have no choice but to assume that this is by design. Being told that parts of my health were predetermined by my Blackness rather than something that deserved deeper investigation, and care signaled to me that I was moving through systems shaped by oppressive institutions and policies that used the colour of my skin to determine my health outcomes and communicate to me that I was less than.
Let’s be clear, it’s not because you are Black
Often called the “silent killer,” hypertension can develop without noticeable symptoms, quietly increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure over time. For many people, especially those navigating busy lives, caregiving, work, and stress, it’s easy to overlook until it becomes urgent.
There is a long-standing narrative that Black and Afro-Caribbean populations are simply “more likely” to develop hypertension as if it is inevitable. That framing is incomplete and it can be harmful.
Race itself is not the risk factor however, the conditions shaped around race can contribute to the development of hypertension.
Hypertension risk is influenced by a combination of:
chronic stress and its physiological effects
access to consistent, preventive healthcare
food environments, nutrition and affordability
cultural and generational health practices
experiences of discrimination and systemic inequities
biological variation, including how the body responds to sodium
There is a fundamental difference between race and genetics. Race is a social construct shaped by history, culture, and power, whereas genetics is the biological information passed down from your parents that influences how your body works.
When we reduce all of this to “you’re predisposed because you are Black,” we erase the real causes and the real opportunities for prevention. You are not destined to have hypertension because you are Black but, you may be navigating conditions that increase your risk.
What Do the Numbers Mean?
Blood pressure is measured using two numbers:
Systolic (top number): pressure when your heart beats
Diastolic (bottom number): pressure when your heart rests between beats
For example: 120 / 80
General guidelines:
Normal: less than 120 / 80
Elevated: 120–129 / less than 80
High (Stage 1): 130–139 / 80–89
High (Stage 2): 140+ / 90+
The higher the numbers, the harder your heart is working to circulate blood. The challenge is that many people don’t check their blood pressure regularly, especially if they feel “fine.”
Are There Symptoms?
One of the most challenging things about Hypertension is that it often has no symptoms at all. Many people feel completely fine even when their blood pressure is high. That’s why it’s called the “silent” condition.
However, in some cases, people may experience:
persistent headaches
dizziness or lightheadedness
blurred vision
shortness of breath
chest discomfort
These symptoms are not always caused by high blood pressure but, they are signals that something in the body needs attention.
What Happens When It Goes Unchecked?
Over time, untreated hypertension can damage the body in ways that are difficult to reverse.
According to the World Health Organization, hypertension is a leading cause of premature death worldwide and significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. These changes happen gradually, often without warning which is why early awareness is so important.
Chronic high blood pressure can:
strain and weaken the heart
damage blood vessels
reduce blood flow to the brain, increasing stroke risk
impair kidney function
contribute to vision loss
complicate pregnancy outcomes
Source: World Health Organization
When to See a Trusted Medical Professional
Do not wait for symptoms to take your health seriously. You should connect with a healthcare provider if:
you have never had your blood pressure checked
your readings are consistently above 130 / 80
you have a family history of hypertension or heart disease
you are pregnant or planning pregnancy
you experience ongoing symptoms like headaches, dizziness, or chest discomfort
you feel unsure about your numbers or what they mean
If you experience:
severe chest pain
difficulty breathing
sudden vision changes
weakness on one side of the body
confusion or trouble speaking
seek immediate medical care, as these could be signs of a serious event such as a stroke or heart complication.
What You Can Do Now
The goal going forward is awareness and consistency. Here are things that you can do to help prevent hypertension:
1. Know Your Numbers
Check your blood pressure at least once a year—or more often if you have risk factors. Many pharmacies offer free checks.
2. Build a Healthy Relationship with Food
Healthy eating does not have to mean expensive or unfamiliar. Prevention often starts in the kitchen!
Focus on:
whole foods when possible
reducing excess sodium
using herbs and spices to maintain cultural flavour
cooking at home when you can
3. Move Your Body
Movement helps regulate blood pressure over time. Consistency matters more than intensity.
Some options include:
walking
stretching
dancing
everyday movement
4. Pay Attention to Stress
Chronic stress has a direct physiological impact on blood pressure. Choosing care early is a form of prevention.
Managing stress can look like:
therapy
rest
setting boundaries
spending time in community
5. Prioritize Sleep
Poor sleep is strongly linked to hypertension, affecting how your body regulates stress hormones, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Getting enough rest matters—and what “enough” looks like can shift across life stages:
Late teens (14–17 years): aim for 8–10 hours per night
Young adults (18–25 years): aim for 7–9 hours
Adults (26–64 years): aim for 7–9 hours
Even small improvements in sleep routines—like going to bed at a consistent time, limiting screen use before sleep, and creating a calm environment—can support healthier blood pressure over time.
Source: National Sleep Foundation
6. Follow Trusted Medical Guidance
If medication is recommended, work with your care village (Primary Doctor, Dietician etc) to determine which medicine is right for you based on your lifestyle or planned life changes (becoming pregnant). It is normal to manage hypertension with a combination of lifestyle changes and medical care.
A note on trust and medical guidance: For many people, especially within Afro-Caribbean, Black and Indigenous communities, trust in the healthcare system is not automatic and for good reason. Seeking care does not mean ignoring that reality. It means finding a provider or space where you feel heard, respected, and safe to ask questions.
Final Thoughts
Hypertension is common but, it is not inevitable. Upon taking the time to understand more about my family health, I learned that we have a rare disease on my paternal side called Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus that impacts the kidneys and sodium regulation.
As bell hooks reminds us, “Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation.” Radical care in racialised communities means that we need to better understand our genetics to help inform the way we care for ourselves.
Health outcomes are shaped not only by what we eat or how often we exercise, but by the environments we live in:
whether fresh food is accessible and affordable
whether healthcare feels safe and culturally responsive
whether work conditions allow for rest
whether stress is chronic or supported
As you explore curating your own way of managing the possibility of hypertension (high blood pressure), I propose some guiding thoughts. Instead of asking: “Am I going to get hypertension?” or thinking “I’m Black so it’s only a matter of time” ask yourself: “What conditions am I living in, what is my family health history and how can this information support my decisions?”
More questions about hypertension? Visit https://hypertension.ca/public
