Community-based hypertension control programs that work.

Hypertension is the number one public health problem in the United States, particularly among African Americans. Although the National High Blood Pressure Education Program, started in 1972, led the way to a substantial decrease in morbidity and mortality from this disease, the percentage of African American hypertensives whose conditions are detected, treated, and controlled continues to lag behind that of white hypertensives. Community-based programs at locations where people congregate-for example, churches, barbershops, beauty salons, firehouses, housing projects, and worksites-can play a valuable role in increasing the number of African American hypertensives who receive treatment. Physicians can be a potent force for the development of these programs by acting as consultants to define the scope and function of lay volunteers and by promoting these programs in a variety of other ways.