VCU hosts Twitter chat with hypertension expert today

By Anne Dreyfuss
C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research

As part of a month-long series devoted to heart health and in recognition of American Heart Month, Virginia Commonwealth University will host a Twitter chat about hypertension today with Debra J. Barksdale, Ph.D., professor and associate dean of academic programs in the VCU School of Nursing.  

Also known as high blood pressure, hypertension is a long-term medical condition in which blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. The disease usually does not cause symptoms initially, but if left untreated it can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, which are the first and third most common causes of death in the U.S. Hypertension can also cause damage to the kidneys and increase risk of blindness and dementia. It is often referred to as a silent killer because of its lack of signs and symptoms.

About 70 million American adults have high blood pressure, accounting for one in every three adults in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only about half of people with high blood pressure have their condition under control.

Barksdale’s research focuses on stress and cardiovascular disease in the African-American community and her former National Institutes of Health-funded study, titled “Hypertension in Black Americans: Environment, Behavior, and Biology,” explores the underlying hemodynamic determinants of hypertension. During the Twitter chat on Tuesday, she will discuss ways to prevent hypertension, treatment for the disease and more.   

Everyone is invited to sign into their Twitter accounts and join the conversation to have their questions answered by Barksdale from noon to 1 p.m. on Feb. 16. Just remember to use the hashtag #VCUHealthChat when posting questions and comments.

Questions can be submitted in advance via Twitter using #VCUHealthChat and @VCUHealth on Twitter.