High blood pressure is something that’s synonymous with the African American community. More than 40 percent of non-Hispanic African-American men and women have high blood pressure according to the Heart Association. For African-Americans, high blood pressure also develops earlier in life and is usually more severe. Theories include higher rates of obesity and diabetes among African-Americans. Researchers have also found that there may be a gene that makes African-Americans much more salt sensitive. In people who have this gene, as little as one extra gram (half a teaspoon) of salt could raise blood pressure as much as 5 mm Hg. Either way, we have to end this cycle which leads…