Related Experiment Videos

The interrelationship between hypertension and blood pressure, attendance at religious services, and race/ethnicity

Caryn N Bell1, Janice V Bowie, Roland J Thorpe

  • 1Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. cbell@jhsph.edu

Journal of Religion and Health
|April 1, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Attending religious services weekly is linked to lower hypertension odds for White and Black individuals. However, these benefits for blood pressure varied across racial and ethnic groups, suggesting not all populations experience the same advantages.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Sociology of Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Established links exist between race/ethnicity and hypertension or blood pressure (BP).
  • Frequency of religious services attendance is also documented to influence hypertension/BP.
  • The combined association of these three factors remains under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interrelationship between race/ethnicity, religious service attendance, and hypertension/BP.
  • To assess how these factors interact within diverse racial and ethnic groups.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized national data from a large cohort (n=12,488).
  • Analyzed data for non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and Mexican-Americans.
  • Examined odds of hypertension and levels of systolic BP in relation to religious service attendance frequency.

Main Results:

  • Weekly religious service attendance was associated with lower odds of hypertension in Whites.
  • Attending services more than weekly correlated with lower hypertension odds in Blacks.
  • No significant association between attendance and hypertension was found for Mexican-Americans.
  • Attendance showed an inverse relationship with systolic BP across all groups, with stronger effects observed in Whites and Blacks compared to Mexican-Americans.

Conclusions:

  • Increased attendance at religious services demonstrates potential benefits for hypertension and blood pressure management.
  • These health benefits associated with religious service attendance may not be uniformly advantageous across all racial and ethnic populations.
  • Further research is needed to understand the differential impact of religious service attendance on cardiovascular health outcomes in diverse communities.

Related Concept Videos

Factors affecting Blood pressure01:28

Factors affecting Blood pressure

Several physiological and lifestyle factors influence blood pressure (BP). Understanding these factors is crucial as they are significant in patient education and blood pressure management.
Physiological Factors:
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure01:18

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...
Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring01:25

Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring

Blood pressure monitoring is a crucial clinical procedure in diagnosing and managing various cardiovascular conditions. Despite its significance, the accuracy of blood pressure measurements can be compromised by multiple factors, potentially leading to either falsely high or low readings. These inaccuracies are critical as they can significantly impact patient care. So, it is vital to understand these challenges deeply and adopt strategic approaches to minimize errors.
Several factors...
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:30

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
Hypertension II: Pathophysiology01:29

Hypertension II: Pathophysiology

Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the blood's force against artery walls is excessively high, posing risks such as heart disease. The condition's underlying mechanisms involve complex interactions among the cardiovascular, kidney, and autonomic nervous systems.Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system significantly influences blood pressure regulation. When blood pressure decreases, the kidneys secrete renin. This enzyme transforms angiotensinogen, a plasma protein,...
Hypertension I: Introduction01:28

Hypertension I: Introduction

Hypertension is a widespread, long-term medical condition where blood pressure in the arteries remains elevated. It is characterized by systolic blood pressure readings of 130 mm Hg or above or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) readings of 80 mm Hg or higher. Unmanaged hypertension poses significant health risks, making the distinction between primary (or essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension crucial, as their management and implications vary.Primary HypertensionPrimary hypertension,...