Patient Self-Management: Impact of Racism-related Vigilance in the Management of Hypertension in African-Americans

It is important to understand the role that discrimination plays in health disparities. This paper will discuss racism-related vigilance, and its role in health outcomes in hypertensive African-Americans (AAs). This paper will also attempt to provide insight on how the absence of a culturally competent health care system may predispose AAs to developing stress-induced hypertension due to racism-related vigilance. This paper will explore how community partnership programs may be beneficial interventions for building resilience and promoting positive health behaviors among hypertensive AAs in the face of discrimination-related vigilance.