Contagious Conversations

Doctors have long known that hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a leading risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Yet today, nearly half of all adults in the United States have hypertension, creating a silent public health threat. Host Dr. Judy Monroe is joined by Dr. Jerome Adams and Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel. Dr. Adams is a former U.S. Surgeon General of the United States and now serves as the executive director of Purdue University’s Health Equity Initiatives. Dr. Emanuel is vice provost for global initiatives and the Diane v.S. Levy and Robert M. Levy University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode, the doctors discuss the health risks posed by hypertension, reasons why it is so prevalent in the U.S. and the steps we can all take to stay healthy. For full episode transcription, visit Contagious Conversations.   Key Takeaways: [1:46] Why is hypertension so prevalent?  [2:20] Dr. Emanuel discusses the lack of exercise as a contributing factor to high hypertension rates in the U.S. a