High Blood Pressure and African Americans: Do You Know Your Risk?

African Americans tend to develop high blood pressure earlier in life, have much higher blood pressure, and have a greater risk for complications from it. Because of high blood pressure, ethnicities like African Americans are:

• One-and-a-half times more likely to die of heart disease
• Almost twice as likely to die of a stroke
• Four times as likely to have severe kidney damage

EXFORGE is approved to treat high blood pressure and is not approved to treat or prevent heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease.

The good news is that high blood pressure can be treated and managed. Most African Americans with high blood pressure need more than one medicine to help them control it. Pills that combine medicines, like EXFORGE, can simplify your routine.

EXFORGE can significantly lower high blood pressure for ethnicities like African Americans. In some studies, results were seen within two weeks after starting therapy or change in dose. Individual results may vary.

EXFORGE is a prescription medication for the treatment of high blood pressure. It may be used when one medicine to lower your blood pressure is not enough. It may also be used as the first medicine to lower high blood pressure if your doctor decides you are likely to need more than one medicine.

Learn more about EXFORGE

Many factors play a role in high blood pressure for African Americans

Diets high in salt, family history, and being overweight are just some of the reasons that make high blood pressure a real challenge for African Americans. That's why it's important to work with your doctor.

Remember, being an informed, educated patient can be a good start to reaching and maintaining your blood pressure goal. Exforge.com offers several resources that can help you manage your blood pressure, such as:

• Behind the Numbers, a tutorial to help you understand your blood pressure numbers
• Doctor Discussion Guide to help you prepare for doctor visits
• Blood Pressure Log to use as you track your blood pressure

Find these helpful tools and more in Patient Tools

EXFORGE is approved to treat high blood pressure and is not approved to treat or prevent heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease.

NEXT: How is high blood pressure treated?