Carlos Redmond didn’t expect to spend his summer clearing out his cabinets and ridding himself of high-sodium foods, but when he learned he had chronic hypertension, he made some changes. This purge was just the beginning of a transformational journey towards better health for him and his family—guided by his quest for self-care and a strong connection with his community health worker.
Within a few doctor visits with Kwanza Carter, Family Nurse Practitioner, Carlos was diagnosed with chronic hypertension. Carlos admits that his first reaction was to laugh at the seriousness with which his doctor addressed the implications of his condition. “I laughed, because [my doctor] was stern, but I really didn’t know what to say.” He’d thought of himself as healthy so being introduced to this diagnosis and daily medication was an unwelcome surprise.
He was enrolled in Community of Hope’s community health team initiative that connects community health workers to support patients with chronic hypertension and diabetes in their homes and in our health centers. Community health workers offer vital services, including health education, assistance in accessing healthcare, informal counseling, and advocacy for individual health needs.
“One day, Malaysia just started calling and asking me about my medicine and other stress I had going on,” says Carlos. Initially, he expected a “drill sergeant” approach to his health journey; however, he was pleasantly surprised when Malaysia adopted a more supportive and encouraging tone. “She would ask me instead of telling me, so that helped,” says Carlos. They had regular phone calls, and she joined his appointments, ensuring he was never alone on this journey.
“I get nervous and anxious being in the doctor’s office, so it was good to have Malaysia with me,” Carlos says.
After a month of working with his new support team, Carlos started to see changes in his health. Carlos decided not to rely solely on medication and took a holistic approach. “I had to have self-care included in healthcare,” he emphasized. He meticulously examined his cabinets, identifying sodium as a common culprit in his diet. “Once I started to see how much sodium was in everything in my cabinet and fridge, I went with a more whole food diet,” says Carlos. He also implemented a regimen for managing his anxiety, which included getting enough sleep and disconnecting from the world in “airplane mode.”
Each time Malaysia would call for a check-in, he was proud to share how his changes were making a positive impact in his hypertension. By the next month, when it was time to get his vitals measured again, Carlos’s numbers had improved significantly. His diet, combined with his newfound mindfulness, played a crucial role in this positive change. He found reassurance in Malaysia’s words: “If it’s working and keeping you healthy, why not continue?”
“It was great to see how month to month, his blood pressure improved, and he found ways that worked for him,” says Malaysia Tyree. “My favorite part of working with him to see how he brought in his daughter and made this lifestyle shift for the whole family.”
Malaysia connected Carlos to the local, mobile farmer’s market and other resources for him to get fresh food. “I take my daughter there with me to make sure she gets the farmer’s market experience instead of only seeing food in the stores,” says Carlos. He vividly remembers growing up and seeing how people in low-income environments often had limited access to healthy groceries. He is dedicated to creating a different reality for his family.
Now, it’s been months since Carlos learned of his diagnosis and he has improved enough to no longer need daily medication.
Carlos’s journey from hypertension to health is not just a personal triumph; it’s a testament to the power of community support, holistic healthcare, and mindfulness. By taking control of his health and actively participating in programs that support better nutrition, Carlos hopes to inspire positive change in his family and others around him.
