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Abstract

Background: Hypertension develops in individuals irrespective of age, gender, national origin or ethnic grouping. However, there are some differences regarding the extent to which each ethnic population distribution is involved. This review utilized the Health Belief Model (HBM) to design an approach to promote knowledge, beliefs, and modify health behavior of African-Americans with borderline high blood pressure risk factors toward hypertension.
Methods: To meet the study objectives, we searched MEDLINE from January 2011 through December 2013, using the medical subject headings of physical activity and health, nutrition, exercise/leisure-time activity, hypertension, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Twenty-five peer-reviewed scientific articles which met our research inclusion criteria were identified and reviewed.
Results: On overweight, obesity and sedentary lifestyles, as comorbid factors for hypertension and other CVDs, many researchers concluded that the combination of excessive nutrient intake and sedentary lifestyle has been the major causes for the rapid acceleration of obesity in today’s US population. While hypertension is more prevalent and severer in African Americans than other US populations, these authors believe that the major process in high blood pressure control, therefore, lies in the concept of primary and secondary prevention interventions involving sustained efforts in behavior, lifestyle changes, and therapeutic compliance via the HBM at the pre-hypertension stage.
Conclusion: The risk of hypertension in the US general population and its unabated disproportional representation in minority communities, especially African Americans, remains a major health challenge. Hence, reviewing and understanding research studies on hypertension, behavioral risk factors and lifestyle changes may prove useful and beneficial for high blood pressure and comorbid conditions intervention programs.