High blood pressure (hypertension) is a serious health condition that affects many Americans. This health condition can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. A normal blood pressure is systolic blood pressure divided by diastolic blood pressure, 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). High blood pressure refers to systolic pressure greater than 140 mm Hg and diastolic pressure greater than 90 mm Hg. Hypertension affects the health outcomes of Black Americans more than other races in the United States. Racial discrimination and socioeconomic status are two major factors that influence the rate of hypertension in the black American population. Hypertension is a developing problem worldwide, associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In 2020, the world population will be approximately 7.8 billion people and there will be one billion people who may be affected by hypertension (Tomson & Lip, 2005). One in three adults in the United States suffers from high blood pressure. According to the report “Health, United States, 2010 with Special Feature on Death and Dying,” the prevalence of hypertension among adults 20 years of age or older increased from 24% to 32% during 1988-1994 and 2005-2008. The African-American population has a higher prevalence of this health condition than white Americans. From 2005 to 2008, the prevalence of hypertension among black males (41.4%) was greater than 10%, compared to white males at 31.5% of the population. Black women's rate of hypertension was more than double that of white women. The death rate from hypertension among black males was 51.8 per 100,000 and among black females it was 40.4 per 100,000; however, the dead...... middle of the paper ......de, T. W., Kiefe, C. I., & Liu, K. (2007). Relationships between skin color, income, and blood pressure among African Americans in the CARDIA study. American Journal of Public Health, 97(12), 2253-2259. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hch&AN=28073645&site=ehost-liveTomson, J., & Lip, G.Y.H. (2005). Blood pressure demographics: nature or nurture… …genes or environment? BMC Medicine, 3, 3-4. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-3-3Williams, D. R., & Collins, C. (1995). Socioeconomic and racial differences in health: Patterns and explanations. Annual Review of Sociology, 21(1), 349. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=9509242616&site=ehost-liveWilliams, D. R., & Jackson, P. B. (2005). Social sources of racial disparities in health. Health Affairs, 24(2), 325-334. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.24.2.325