Church-based Intervention to Improve Blood Pressure in African Americans

This is a 12-month behavioral cluster-randomized trial testing a church-based intervention to reduce blood pressure in African Americans with uncontrolled blood pressure.

Inclusion Criteria: Churches: * At least 75 members and ability to recruit 15 study participants * Predominantly African American congregants Participants: * Age 18 or older * Has blood pressure readings with uncontrolled blood pressure, defined as exceeding the blood thresholds for initiation of antihypertensive medication according to the 2017 American College of Cardiology/ American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines. \- The thresholds are 140/90 for the general population \< 65 years old, and 130/80 for individuals ≥ 65 or with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or high cardiovascular risk (self-report of prior diagnosis of myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, stroke or heart failure) * Attends church (virtually or in-person) at least once per month * Able to attend weekly Zoom meetings * Consents and completes all baseline assessments Exclusion Criteria: Churches: • Pastor unwilling to conduct Bible study Participants: * Unable to make dietary changes due to lack of control over their food source (i.e., eat meals at shelter, nursing home) * Has a medical condition that prohibits or severely restricts ability to eat vegetables (i.e., renal disease, Crohn's disease) * Has a medical condition with an uncertain 6-month prognosis * Inability to give informed consent (i.e., cognitive impairment, does not speak Englis * Plans to move within the 6 months following enrollment * Participated in prior ALIVE intervention * Member of household participating in another church