—Vanessa Edwards, B1Daily

High blood pressure rarely announces itself with dramatic symptoms, yet it quietly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. For Black Americans, the numbers make hypertension one of the country’s most serious health disparities.

Nearly 60% of non-Hispanic Black adults have high blood pressure, compared with about 45% of non-Hispanic white adults. Among Black adults who have hypertension, approximately 78% do not have it controlled below 130/80 mm Hg.

The reasons extend beyond personal choices. Diet, physical activity and medication adherence matter, but access to healthcare, neighborhood conditions, economic stress and opportunities to obtain nutritious food can also influence cardiovascular health.

The encouraging part is that hypertension can often be managed. The CDC recommends approaches including home blood-pressure monitoring with clinical support, team-based medical care, community health workers and pharmacy-based interventions. Eating more fruits and vegetables, reducing sodium and staying physically active can also help.

Black America should treat knowing your blood pressure with the same seriousness as knowing your credit score. One number measures financial health. The other might save your life.

—Vanessa Edwards, B1Daily