Hypertension is a prevalent condition in the United States and is growing. This

Question

Hypertension is a prevalent condition in the United States and is growing. This pathology inordinately affects the African American population with 43% of black males and 45.7% of black females diagnosed with this pathology. This population also develop high blood pressure at a lower age than other ethnic groups.   

One of the dominant theories as to the cause of this racial disparity is a defect in oxidative stress in African Americans. In 500 words or less (with references), propose a cellular mechanism through which this happens and discuss possible gene targets that would be different in African Americans.

Explanation / Answer

Prevalence of high risk of Hypertension among African American population is believed to be because of 2 major factors,

1. Genetic Factor

2. Environmental Factor

Genetic Factor

It is believed that African American are hypersensitive to salt, which caused by a gene expression. Scientific studies reveal 18 genotypes & phenotypes responsible for increased blood pressure in African American (refer Kaplan NM, Victor RG. Kaplan's Clinical Hypertension. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Williams; 2010.).For example, genetic variation of the MYH9 region on chromosome 22 affects the kidneys, causing renal hypertension which found more prevalent among this population group.This genetic variation, the renal cells become rigid (attain cell death) at a very early stage, attributing to a condition called hypertensive nephrosclerosis causing Hypertensive Kidney diseases.This gene expression also causes this population susceptible to Hypertension at a very young age.

Environmental Factor

Psychosocial factor also plays a pivotal risk factor in hypertension.Socioeconomic status, access to healthcare are some of the Social factors, whereas exposure to discrimination is a psychological factor which the scientist claim to be a factor directly related to risk factors (refer Davis SK, Liu Y, Quarells RC, Dim-Dzietham R. Stress-related racial discrimination and hypertension likelihood in a population-based sample of African Americans: The metro Atlanta heart disease study. Ethn Dis 2005;15:585–593.).

Some of the other risk factors are

Obesity,

Dietary habits,

Diabetes &

Lifestyle factors.

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