June 20^th is Fathers' Day. In homes across America, celebrations are being planned to honor the men for whom being a "family man" is life's highest calling. Along with sons and daughters everywhere, I wish my Dad - and every loving father - a long, healthy life in which to enjoy his family's love.

We should be thinking about a wonderful Fathers' Day gift when we sit down for dinner next Sunday, and a heartfelt talk about blood pressure may well be that gift.

Hypertension is a medical condition in which the small blood vessels which branch off from our arteries become constricted, making it difficult for blood to pass through them. As a result, blood pressure rises and our hearts must work harder.

African American adults have the highest incidence of hypertension in the world. Typically, however, we do not experience noticeable symptoms of this "silent killer" until we contract one of the life-threatening conditions to which high blood pressure can lead.

This is why simple, painless blood pressure monitoring on a regular basis can preserve our fathers' health and extend their lives. Although medical science does not yet have all the answers to the causes of high blood pressure, our doctors have learned enough to save our lives - if we cooperate.

We know, for example, that adults over the age of 35 (and especially men) are at increased risk. Excess weight, salty and fat-rich diets, inadequate exercise, stress and genetic predisposition all significantly increase that risk.

We know that failure to control high blood pressure can be deadly. People with uncontrolled hypertension are 7 times more likely to have a stroke, 6 times more likely to develop congestive heart failure, 3 times more likely to have a heart attack and significantly more likely to experience kidney failure.

We know that African Americans - especially those of us with limited education, less wealth and less access to medical care - are far more likely to die as a result of hypertension-related diseases than the U.S. population as a whole.

The most important knowledge we have gained, however, is this: Those of us who diligently have our blood pressure tested and under control will live to enjoy Fathers' Days well into the future.

That knowledge drives my Congressional agenda to expand access to quality health information and care. Until we eliminate the term, "medically underserved populations" from our national lexicon, ours will not be a just society.

Locally, I am honored to serve on a panel which advises The Baltimore Alliance. Led by Drs. Elijah Saunders and David Stewart, nationally-recognized experts on hypertension at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the Alliance is a community-wide coalition of organizations dedicated to eliminating death from hypertension and diabetes.

Every Baltimore resident should support and participate in a Baltimore Alliance health partnership, just as we should applaud The AFRO American, The Baltimore Times and WOLB Radio for their efforts to inform us about community health risks.

The ongoing Howard Park Health Awareness Project offers a wonderful example of how neighborhood involvement can save lives under the Baltimore Alliance umbrella. High blood pressure screening, referral and treatment initiatives are drawing support from Baltimore's Fire and Police Departments, the local Rite Aid Pharmacy and Super Pride Market, the Neighborhood Service Center, the Forest Park Senior Center, and the Howard Park Civic and Merchants' Associations.

Baltimore leaders wishing to bring a Baltimore Alliance initiative to their neighborhoods may contact the Alliance at (410) 706-6752.

Next Sunday, everyone can show our love for the fathers (and other adults) in our lives. Some gentle pressure about controlling hypertension would be a wonderful Fathers' Day gift.