The prevalence of high blood pressure (hypertension) is 50% higher in African Americans than it is in whites (Peters, 2015). Mortality rates among African Americans are also significantly higher than whites. The direct cause for hypertension is unknown, but there are such risk factors that can lead to the disease. Factors such as obesity, alcohol use, lack of exercise, and sodium sensitivity contributes to higher rates of mortality, most commonly in African Americans. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) has been used in numerous studies to understand and explain certain behaviors. The purpose of this study is to use the TBH model to explore the risk factors and beliefs of African Americans to control and prevent hypertension. African Americans are consistently reporting a higher prevalence in hypertension than in whites (Fuchs, 2011). The authors find that there are eighteen genotypes and phenotypes that are involved in the increase of …show more content…
The individual must one, be aware of the disease. They must also know how to treat the disease with the prescribed medication. Lastly, the individual must be able to control it by maintaining a systolic blood pressure lower than 140 mm. One of the primary problem affecting racial disparities in hypertension control are differences between patient’s and provider’s attitudes about health (CDC, 2010) African American’s beliefs are based upon one’s socio-economical status, age, and their place of origin. Their beliefs about the disease affects how they are susceptible to the disease., severity, and how effective their treatment will be. According to the CDC, focus groups among African Americans have proven that it makes it is hard for one to believe they have the disease when there are no present symptoms of the disease. This can be problematic it can affect the patients trust in the physician and the ability to submit to the right treatment and recommendations (CDC,