Last month, as we celebrated Black History Month, we honored the leadership, resilience, and brilliance of Black Americans who have shaped our nation and our great state of Louisiana. But Black History Month is not just about reflection.
It is also about responsibility. It is about confronting the challenges that still threaten the health and well-being of our people.
Let me speak plainly.
I am from New Orleans. We love our food. Fried this. Fried that. Seafood boiled and seasoned to perfection. Spicy everything. Salt this and salt that. It is part of our culture. It is part of our gatherings. It is part of our joy.
But as we get older, we must be honest with ourselves. What we eat and how we move our bodies matter. Diet and exercise are not suggestions. They are necessities.
Hypertension, high blood pressure, is called the silent killer for a reason. You do not always feel it. There is no alarm bell. But unchecked and untreated, it quietly damages your heart, your kidneys and your brain. It leads to stroke, heart disease and premature death.
And I have seen it up close.
It is heartbreaking to see a young person walking through the community dragging half of their body, the obvious result of a stroke caused by uncontrolled hypertension. That is not just a medical statistic. That is somebody’s son. Somebody’s daughter. Somebody’s future altered in an instant.
Rate of heart disease higher in Black communities across America—and higher in Louisiana
Monitoring your blood pressure can save your life. A simple check. A small device. A routine doctor’s visit. These basic steps can prevent irreversible damage.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Black Americans have the highest rates of hypertension of any group. We develop it earlier. We suffer strokes at higher rates. We are far more likely to die from complications related to high blood pressure. In Louisiana, where cardiovascular disease already exceeds national averages, the burden on Black communities is even heavier.
These outcomes are not accidents. They are shaped by social and structural realities, access to affordable health care, food deserts, underinsurance, chronic stress and gaps in preventive care.
The good news is that hypertension is preventable and manageable. Monitoring your blood pressure can save your life. A simple check. A small device. A routine doctor’s visit. These basic steps can prevent irreversible damage.
Innovation in hypertension care is also accelerating. New and emerging technologies are transforming how we approach high blood pressure treatment.
These innovations help doctors tailor treatment to the individual and increase treatment adherence. When we invest in innovative, equitable approaches to hypertension care, we can save lives, reduce health care costs, and close the gaps in cardiovascular outcomes.
Beyond innovation, we need to confront the systemic barriers that have allowed hypertension to disproportionately impact Black communities for generations.
We also have a responsibility at the federal level to act.
In Congress, I am proud to champion H.R. 3514, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025. This is a major utilization management reform bill targeting Medicare Advantage’s prior authorization, which often causes delays or denials in necessary care.
I am also a cosponsor of H.R. 4007, the PHARA Act, which, during an era of defunding, would protect ongoing cardiovascular and hypertension-related research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). I will continue to push for healthcare-system reforms and to fight for funding for this important work.
Advancing health equity requires implementing policies that expand access to preventive care, invest in community-based solutions and strengthen the relationship between patients and the health care system. Lifesaving innovations must reach the neighborhoods, clinics and families who need them most.
Last month, during Black History Month, we were reminded of our resilience. We were reminded that we have overcome past barriers.
Now we must apply that same determination to our health.
Let us honor our ancestors not only with words, but with action. Let us reduce the salt. Move our bodies. Check our pressure. Keep our appointments. Encourage our loved ones to do the same.
Because protecting our health is protecting our future.
No one should be left behind in the fight against hypertension. Not in New Orleans. Not in Louisiana. Not anywhere in America.
Congressman Troy Carter represents Louisiana’s Second Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and leads the Congressional Men’s Health Caucus in the 119th Congress.
