African American women are more at risk for high blood pressure (hypertension) and other heart-related illnesses than any other group in the United States. Genetic counseling has been shown to be effective in treating numerous diseases including breast and other types of cancer, however, the effects of genetic counseling on hypertension and other heart diseases have not been studied as thoroughly. Changes in lifestyle, including physical activity, sodium intake (i.e., salt), potassium intake (a mineral found in many common foods such as leafy greens, beans, bananas, fish, and yogurt), and body mass index (BMI) may have significant impacts on heart health. The aim of this study was to examine these lifestyle changes among urban African American women prior to and following genetic counseling for hypertension. Specifically, this study asked if participation in genetic counseling for hypertension risk would result in improved lifestyle behaviors and a decrease in blood pressure.
The study sampled 98 women from the Detroit Metropolitan area who had previously participated in the parent study “Hypertension and Heredity: Hypertension Genetic Polymorphisms in Three Generations of African American Women”. Information was collected regarding demographics, height weight, BMI, blood pressure, physical activity, and sodium and potassium intake. A significant portion of the participants (30.6%) were over the age of 55, were unmarried, and had received at least some college education.
As expected, this study found that as age and BMI increase, so does blood pressure. Interestingly, this study also found that lowered sodium intake was associated with increased blood pressure, a finding that is inconsistent with previous studies from the American Heart Association and the DASH diet (a popular diet for lowering blood pressure). Additionally, the study also found that age was associated with lower intake of sodium and a higher intake of potassium. As predicted, the study also indicated that sodium intake decreased after participants received genetic counseling.
This study indicates the importance of health professionals to include genetic counseling in their treatment plans for African Americans with hypertension as a means of reducing blood pressure and pulse pressure.
Written by Buddy Toth, Visiting Student in Research.