• Research Paper on:
    Hypertension in African Canadians & Dietary Factors

    Number of Pages: 6

     

    Summary of the research paper:

    A 6 page research proposal that argues that there may be a reverse correlation between the incidence of hypertension in a black population and the incidence of breastfeeding, that is, that a low incidence of breastfeeding may increase hypertension in an adult population. A study design is proposed. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

    Name of Research Paper File: D0_khbhyper.rtf

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    Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
    of hypertension development among an African American population. Rationale Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for 12.4 million deaths annually, with the majority of these deaths occurring within the industrialized  countries (Forrester, 2004). Hypertension is the most common CVD and associated with obesity, but its underlying mechanisms remain obscure (Forrester, 2004). However, obesity and salt intake have been shown to  constitute two important risk factors for hypertension development. Consumption of a western-style diet, which is high in sodium but low in calcium and potassium has been implicated as an underlying  cause of hypertension (Roberts, 2001). Traditional African populations typically display a low incidence of hypertension; however, it is common among migrant African populations in the West (Forrester, 2004). One  explanation for this is that it may be genetic, but no causative gene has been located (Forrester, 2004). Non-genetic susceptibilities, such as fetal programming also provide a possible explanation. Theoretically,  fetal programming, induced by transient stimuli, has the capability of permanently altering fetal structure at the cellular, organ and whole-body levels (Forrester, 2004). Birth weight is inversely related to  blood pressure and hypertension risk, which suggests that risk factors, such as obesity and salt sensitivity, maybe programmed in utero (Forrester, 2004). Also, salt sensitivity may be related to malnutrition  while in utero, which reduces the nephron number and resets the pressure-natriuresis curve rightward (Forrester, 2004). Since African-descended Canadians have a greater incidence of low birth weight than do European-descended  Canadians, which suggests that the higher prevalence of hypertension among this population may be related to fetal programming (Forrester, 2004). The study instituted by Forrester (2004) to examine this hypothesis  was inconclusive, but suggestive that additional underlying causes for obesity and salt sensitivity may exist. The research of Singhal and colleagues in 2001 is also suggestive that infancy conditions may 

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