Hypertension Hypertension Basics

NBA Stars Raise Awareness About "Silent Killer"

Summary & Participants

Not even a former NBA star is safe from the dangers of high blood pressure.

Medically Reviewed On: August 07, 2008

Webcast Transcript

ANNOUNCER: For retired NBA star Darryl Dawkins, the diagnosis of high blood pressure was a shocker.

Darryl Dawkins, Former NBA Star: Professional athlete, running two miles a day, hundred sit-ups, hundred pushups, no way I got this. And I had to really get a grip on it.

ANNOUNCER: That’s why he’s joined NBA legends Dominique Wilkins and Spencer Haywood to help a pharmaceutical company raise awareness about what can be a silent killer.

Spencer Haywood, Former NBA Star: My father, John Haywood, died of complications of high blood pressure. My brother, Joe Haywood, my brother, Andy Haywood, my sister, Lena, my sister, Verge, died of complications of high blood pressure.

David Kountz, MD, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital: People can go for years, for decades and not know they have hypertension. And, sadly, many times, the first time they come to medical attention is when they've had a mini-stroke, a stroke or a heart attack.

ANNOUNCER: While nearly one in three adults has high blood pressure – African Americans are at even greater risk. An estimated 41 percent of African Americans have high blood pressure – compared to 27 percent of whites.

David Kountz, MD, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital: In addition to the greater prevalence of hypertension in African Americans, African Americans tend to have more severe complications, even for similar levels of blood pressure control.

Dominique Wilkins, NBA Hall of Famer: My mother had high blood pressure and she had two strokes in result of that. It was a wake-up call for her. It forced her to think more seriously about taking care of herself.

David Kountz, MD, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital: That's why getting across the idea of regular screening, even for African Americans in their twenties, is important. This is not a death sentence. People can go on and live a long, healthy life when they're blood pressure-controlled.

Darryl Dawkins, Former NBA Star: People think that they're all right. Outside, they look good, they say they feel good, but you have something going on inside of you called a silent killer. Get it checked out.