The Effects of High Blood Pressure on LGBT the Community

 

High blood pressure affects approximatelyone in three people in the Rochester area. Whether you’re straight or queer, high blood pressure can have serious effects on your health, ranging from headaches or dizziness to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and impaired vision.

Some of the causes of high blood include:

  • Genetics

  • A Diet High in Salt

  • Obesity

  • Lack of Exercise

  • Aging

  • Caffeine Consumption

  • Alcohol Consumption

  • Tobacco Consumption

  • A Lack of Sleep

  • Stress/ Anxiety

  • And Arguing

 

While these are all things that everyone should be careful of, many of the causes of high blood pressure directly affect the queer community. For instance:

Tobacco: Recent studies seem to support the notion that gay men use tobacco at much higher rates than straight men, reaching nearly 50 percent in several studies. Similar studies have indicated that lesbian women also consume tobacco products at a higher rate than heterosexual women.

Alcohol: Numerous reports have indicated that substantially higher numbers of LGBT people use alcohol and other substances than their heterosexual counterparts; and about 30% of LGBT people develop problems with alcohol at some point in their life.?

Fitness: Research also confirms that lesbians have higher body mass than heterosexual women.

So what does this mean?

We have to protect ourselves from becoming another statistic. Make healthier decisions, consume more responsibly, and add physical activity to your daily routine. Protecting yourself from high blood pressure can be a lot easier than you think.

 

Click Here to take a survey which will help The Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency and Rochester Business Alliance address this critical health care challenge.