Monroe, Ga. (Feb. 26, 2024) – February is Black History Month and while the country is celebrating and commemorating the great contributions made to this country by Black Americans, it also is a good time to be mindful of health issues impacting the Black community.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 56.8 percent of Black or African-American non-Hispanic men age 20 and older have hypertension. Among women, that percentage is even higher: 57.6 percent.
Loida Bonney, M.D., an internal medicine physician and a primary care regional medical director for Piedmont Primary Care, said diseases stemming from uncontrolled blood pressure, also known as hypertension, impact Black Americans in disproportionate numbers. Hypertension can lead to heart disease, stroke, and chronic kidney disease.
“Hypertension is a silent killer,” Dr. Bonney said. “Lifestyle modification can significantly lower risk for heart disease and stroke. Getting regular exercise and shifting to a plant-based diet can help to improve overall health and reduce these risks.”
A yearly physical can help you stay on top of your blood pressure numbers and take steps to reduce your risk factors.
Uncontrolled hypertension is a leading cause of Chronic Kidney Disease. End Stage chronic kidney disease is treated with a form of life support called hemodialysis that requires prolonged clinic visits as many as three times per week and can be associated with other risks and complications.
Screening for chronic kidney disease can be performed with two simple tests, according to the National Kidney Foundation:
- Spot urine for albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) to detect albuminuria
- Serum creatinine to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
If you have questions about how to receive screening for these tests or any of the above, you may consult your primary care physician.
About Piedmont: Piedmont is empowering Georgians by changing health care. We continue to fuel Georgia’s growth through safe, high-quality care close to home through an integrated health care system that provides a hassle-free, unified experience. We are a private, not-for-profit organization with more than 12,000 donors annually that for centuries has sought to make a positive difference in every life we touch in the communities we serve. Across our 1,600 physical locations we care for 3.7 million patients and serve communities that comprise 80 percent of Georgia’s population. This includes 23 hospitals, 65 Piedmont Urgent Care centers, 25 QuickCare locations, 1,875 Piedmont Clinic physician practices and nearly 3,100 Piedmont Clinic members. Our patients conveniently engage with Piedmont online, as they scheduled more than 515,000 online appointments and over 154,000 virtual visits. With more than 44,000 care givers we are the largest Georgia-based private employer of Georgians, who all came for the job, but stayed for the people. In 2023, Piedmont has earned recognition from Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and also as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women. In 2022, Forbes ranked Piedmont on its list of the Best Large Employers in the United States. In addition, Piedmont provided nearly $360 million in Community Benefit in Fiscal Year 2022, including approximately $310 million in uncompensated care.
For more information, or booking your next appointment, visit piedmont.org.
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