Legacy Community Health Highlights Urgent Need to Address Hypertension in Black Women

HOUSTON, TX (February 27, 2026) — Nearly six in ten Black women are living with cardiovascular disease — a reality Legacy Community Health works to confront year‑round. February offers a moment to deepen awareness of a crisis that persists far beyond a single month. With national observances such as Black History Month and American Heart Month underway, Legacy is emphasizing a critical truth: Black women disproportionately experience hypertension and cardiovascular disease, conditions that are too often undiagnosed, undertreated, or dismissed.

Legacy is responding through targeted education, improved access to care, and evidence‑based programs designed to help women manage their blood pressure and lower their risk.

According to the American Heart Association, 59% of Black women aged 20 and over are living with some form of cardiovascular disease — a staggering figure that reflects longstanding systemic challenges and barriers to care. Hypertension, often called the “silent threat,” remains one of the most common and preventable contributors to these outcomes.

Hypertension: The Silent Threat

Hypertension occurs when the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries remains higher than it should. It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm/Hg) and presented as two numbers:

• Systolic pressure (top number): measures pressure when the heart beats and typically rises with age.
• Diastolic pressure (bottom number): measures pressure between beats and may decrease as individuals age.

Because hypertension rarely presents noticeable symptoms, regular monitoring becomes essential. Uncontrolled blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney complications — and heart disease remains the leading cause of death among Black women in the U.S.

The Importance of Addressing Hypertension for Black Women

“Hypertension remains one of the most persistent and preventable threats to the health of Black women,” says Dr. Erica Giwa, Legacy’s Medical Director for Obstetrics & Gynecology. “We must ensure that prevention, education, and early detection efforts meet women where they are, in their communities, with resources they can trust.” This commitment guides Legacy’s clinical and community‑based efforts to improve blood pressure control among Black women.

Despite how common hypertension is among Black women, only 25% have their blood pressure under control. Research shows that Black women’s reports of pain and symptoms are often not taken seriously. Amplifying these experiences is essential to breaking the silence and dismantling harmful misconceptions surrounding heart health.

This danger increases during pregnancy, when Black women are 3.5 times more likely to die from cardiovascular‑related complications. Risks also shift during menopause, when hormonal changes can contribute to higher blood pressure — and Black women often experience menopause earlier.

Social drivers of health, including socioeconomic barriers, mistrust of medical systems, and inconsistent access to care or medications, further widen these gaps.

Recognizing Symptoms and Taking Action

Women experiencing a heart attack may present symptoms that differ from men and may be easily overlooked, including:

• Extreme fatigue
• Nausea or indigestion
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Jaw, neck, or back pain

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, seek immediate health attention.

Recognizing these signs can be lifesaving.

“For too long, Black women have carried the heavy load of stress, caregiving, and systemic inequities — all factors proven to raise blood pressure. Prioritizing your heart health isn’t just self‑care, it’s essential,” said Ashley Minkeu, Legacy’s Director of Patient Education. “We are committed to empowering women with the tools, support, and culturally relevant information they need to protect their heart health.”

Legacy Programs and Resources Supporting Heart Health

These initiatives are part of Legacy’s broader strategy to reduce hypertension disparities and help patients take control of their heart health.

Legacy worked with the American Heart Association to make Monitoring Your Blood Pressure at Home possible. The Self‑Monitoring Blood Pressure (SMBP) program enables clinicians to enhance hypertension diagnosis, streamline workflows, and empower patients to play an active role in their care. Legacy continues expanding resources so patients can stay healthy both in the clinic and at home:

• Self-Management Tools: Resources available on the Legacy website.
• Blood Pressure Monitoring sessions: An online hypertension program supporting patients in managing their heart health.
• FREE Blood Pressure Tabling: Patient Education teams will be present at clinics throughout February to teach patients how to monitor their blood pressure.
• Launching COMPARE-BP: Legacy’s Pharmacy Team and the Patient Education Team launched the Comparison of Monitoring Platforms for Achieving Regulated Essential Blood Pressure (COMPARE‑BP) in January 2026. This project focuses on improving blood pressure accuracy and promoting equitable care, especially for uninsured patients.
• Legacy’s FoodRx program: The FoodRx program, led by Legacy’s Health Connect team, has inclusion criteria for both pregnant and non-pregnant patients that are food insecure and experiencing uncontrolled hypertension or have a history of it. All women can be screened for food insecurity and linked to available resources.
• Lifestyle Modifications: The new HTN guidelines highlight lifestyle modifications; Legacy’s Coach Felicia White is a resource to help patients meet their physical and cardiovascular health goals.
• Texas Quitline: Tobacco usage causes an immediate, yet temporary rise in blood pressure and heart rate with every cigarette. Legacy also connects patients that screen positive for tobacco use to the Texas Quitline (YesQuit.org). If they express, they want to quit in the next 30 days. This resource is also free! Patients and community members can also self-refer.

For appointments or questions, call (832) 548‑5000.

Legacy’s Endless Support to Your Health

This February, let’s prioritize heart health and raise awareness about the unique challenges Black women face in managing hypertension and cardiovascular disease. By fostering awareness and education, we can work together to empower and protect our communities.

# # #

 

About Legacy Community Health

Legacy Community Health is a full-service health care system comprised of 63 locations in the Texas Gulf Coast region offering primary and specialty care, as well as pharmacy services. For over 40 years, Legacy has been innovating the ways we provide comprehensive, quality health care services to individuals, families, and communities in need. As the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Texas and a United Way-affiliated agency since 1990, Legacy ensures its services and programs are open to all, regardless of the ability to pay—without judgment or exception. To learn more, visit www.legacycommunityhealth.org.