Newspapers / Winston-Salem State University Student … / April 1, 1990, edition 1 / Page 12
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PAGE 12 The News Argus April 1990 High Blood Pressure: The Silent Killer By Arnetta Hauser, RN Since last month was Black History Month, I felt that a look at the disease which is the number one health problem for Black Americans would be appro priate. That health problem, more commonly referred to as “high blood pressure”; strikes Blacks -especially men- at a rate of 2:1 as compared to Whites. Recently, I was asked to explain just what a blood pressure really measures. That’s when it dawned on me that most folk-especially the traditional college age group- probably have the same ques tion. Well, blood pressure, according to numerous publi cations, measures the amount of force the blood exerts against the walls of the arter ies, as it is being pumped to all parts of the body Natu rally, a person’s blood pres sure may vary throughout a 24 hour period. There are many factors which contrib ute to this. If a person is ex cited, certain hormones and chemicals are released by the body, causing blood vessels to constrict (narrow). The narrower the arteries, the harder the heart has to work to move the same amount of Carpenter Presents Senior Recital By Marcus Mathis Carlton Carpenter recently gave his Senior Recital on Feb ruary 18th at WSSU’s Ander son Center. Carpenter, a Win- ston-Salem native performed a repertoire consisting of German and Italian works from George Fredrick Handel’s “Elijah”, an blood therefore the higher the blood pressure. Many of us have experienced elevations in our blood pressure when visiting the doctor or dentist. During peri ods of rest and relaxation, the blood vessels are wider, which will mean a lower blood pres sure. If a blood pressure contin ues to be high, it causes the heart to be overworked and it strains the blood vessel' and can make them diseased. Aahough in 90% of the cases, the causes of hyper tension is unknown, doctors do view the following as factors which may increase a person’s risk of developing hypertension: 1. Heredity 2. High levels of choles terol (fat) or sodium(salt) in the diet. 3. A lifestyle of contin ued stress and frustration. The borderline figures have changed over the last few decades, but for the most part a reading of 120/80 is within the “normal” range for a healthy adult. Most health care provid ers agree though that anything below 140 to 150/90 is consid ered within normal limits. Any thing greater than that would be considered hypertension. Why is all of this impor- oratorio entitled “Mosiah”, two spirituals, and three contempo rary music pieces: “Can I”, by David Pearston, “1 Want Your Love”, by Pieces of a Dream, and “Lonely Girl”, by Ce Ce Rogers. Over the years. Carpenter has had plenty of practice and experience. While studying music here at WSSU, his in structors have been Dr. Faustina Holman, Dr. Permilla Dunston, and Ms. D’Walla Simmons. He has also been a tant you ask? Well, hyperten sion is the greatest single risk factor a person may have in developing heart disease. Hy pertension can lead to heart at tack, the dreaded stroke, and kidney disease. Hypertension is not called “the silent killer” for nothing. Many people with high blood pressure are not aware that they have it. Gen erally in the early stages, no symptoms are present. It does not make a person feel bad, or dizzy, lightheaded or weak, it doesn’t cause a headache or make spots before the eyes. Generally those symptoms oc cur after hypertension has been well established. That is the reason a simple periodic blood pressure check is so important. Once daily for a total of four consecutive borderline or high readings, the individual is ei ther referred to his private phy sician or the university physi cian. Most cases of hyperten sion can be controlled by one or a combination of the follow ing; Weight reduction-which relieves the workload on the heart. member of the jazz ensemble,gospel choir. Univer sity Singers and Choir. What interested Carpenter in music? “Actually, it began as a practical joke when I was in the ninth grade at Atkins High School. My Friends and I used to sing to each other over the phone and they said, you sound pretty good, so I entered a talent show at high school; I guess I did it because they dared me. When I discov ered I stimulated audiences that is when I began to pursue it as a Special diet -includes avoidingthose culprits sodium and cholesterol. Relaxation-which in cludes stress reduction and re laxation techniques. Exercise-which works hand in hand with weightreduc- tion Medication-special drugs for high blood pressure help to lower it although there is a lot of controversy surrounding it, health care providers believe that hypertension is aggravated by cigarette smoking (espe cially heavy smoking). Hypertension does not have to be a “silent killer” of Black Americans. Increased awareness is the kev to resolv ing this problem. This is not an “old folk’s”disease. Accord ing to the American Heart As sociation, people over 20 years old have been shown to have hypertension. The University health center operates 24 hours per day seven days per week for your convenience. Have your blood pressure checked soon. career.” Carpenter took a 13- week program at the North Carolina School of the Arts, in structed by Martha Teachey as well as singing with the East Forsyth Madrigals. Carpenter likes the attention and says, “You can’t get anywhere in life without being noticed, but you have to work to be the best.” Carpenter’s long-term goal is to record an album preferably produced by L. A. and Babyface or Teddy Riley.
Winston-Salem State University Student Newspaper
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April 1, 1990, edition 1
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