The AHA attributes this high statistic to historical and systemic factors such as access to care and nutritious food, adverse social determinants of health, and the circumstances in which a person is born and lives. The association acknowledges the unfortunate legacy of mistrust the medical world has fostered with the Black community through centuries of discrimination as a constant factor as well.
This country generally struggles with high blood pressure, which is dubbed “the silent killer” for the prevalence of fatal cases due to widespread mismanagement. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that “tens of millions” of Americans suffer from high blood pressure, and “many do not have it under control.”
The AHA says high blood pressure, anything above 130, is managed through careful monitoring by a doctor and lifestyle changes. These changes include eating well, limiting alcohol intake, regular physical activity, quitting smoking, stress management, maintaining a healthy weight, and taking medications correctly if necessary. However, circumstances outside of one’s control can also lead to the disease, such as family history and environment.
According to her neighbors and manager, the Oscar-winning performer became a “recluse” in the days before her death. Her manager said she especially became a shut-in following the COVID-19 pandemic. One neighbor, in particular, was told by Cara that she had “health issues.”
“I’d text her or call her to invite her to come for a walk, but I wouldn’t hear back for days,” Maria Contreras told the New York Post, adding, “And she’d never call back using her cellphone. She called from her computer because she was worried about privacy. She didn’t look well and she said she had health issues.”
When she died, her publicist Judith Moose tweeted the news stating it was the “absolute worst part” of being a publicist.
“She was a beautifully gifted soul whose legacy will live forever through her music and films,” said Moose.
ay Wicker is a lifestyle writer for theGrio covering health, wellness, travel, beauty, fashion, and the myriad ways Black people live and enjoy their lives. She has previously created content for magazines, newspapers, and digital brands.
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