Actor and director Aisha Tyler, known for roles on Criminal Minds and Archer, says her father’s major stroke pushed her to take high blood pressure — which affects nearly half of U.S. adults — more seriously.
Because her dad was fit and active, the stroke came as a shock and made her realize that risk factors don’t always show up in lifestyle or obvious symptoms. That experience led Tyler to partner with the CDC Foundation on Hypertension Bites, a national campaign aimed at helping adults better understand blood pressure and how to control it during midlife.
Left uncontrolled, high blood pressure is the leading risk factor for heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, aortic dissection, kidney failure, and dementia. Bhavna Suri, MD, a cardiologist at Manhattan Cardiology, told Healthline that over time hypertension can thicken the heart muscle (left ventricular hypertrophy), eventually weakening it and causing heart failure. It can damage blood vessels in the eyes (hypertensive retinopathy), potentially causing blurred vision or blindness, and contribute to atherosclerosis, which can lead to erectile dysfunction.
Because hypertension is usually asymptomatic, many people feel fine and miss the signs. When symptoms like headaches, dizziness, vision changes, or fatigue do occur, they’re often blamed on stress, aging, or lack of sleep rather than high blood pressure. Still, Suri emphasized that hypertension is treatable and controllable: while there’s no permanent cure, many people keep their blood pressure in a healthy range through lifestyle changes and medication when needed.
Tyler said she was excited about the campaign because it offers a simple starting point: visit your doctor, learn your numbers, and put a straightforward plan in place. Medications can be very effective, she noted, and there are many actions people can take to reduce risk, rather than assuming events like strokes or heart attacks are mysterious or inevitable.
After her father’s stroke, Tyler looked into her own risk and made lifestyle adjustments aimed at lowering the chance of stroke and other hypertensive outcomes such as kidney damage and dementia. Once a “no-guts, no-glory” competitive athlete who pushed herself to collapse, she has since adopted a more science-based approach that prioritizes rest and recovery. She says she feels better, sleeps better, and is more fit now than 10–15 years ago.
Her daily habits include aiming for eight hours of sleep, taking at least one walk a day (sometimes two) to reset the mind, and focusing on de-stressing. She consumes more vegetables, minimizes junk food, and reserves occasional wine for special nights to maintain balance. She also listens to podcasts and YouTube content about women’s health and optimization.
Tyler describes herself as naturally busy and ambitious — a self-identified workaholic — but says she’s working on better balance. She finds that increased balance improves her creativity and job performance. She also places greater emphasis on friendships and relationships, noting the science that social connections help keep people active and engaged as they age. Spending quality time with loved ones has become a priority.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
