Minority Women's Health

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Stroke

Minority Women's Health > Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians > Health Topics > Stroke

On average, every 45 seconds someone in the U.S. has a stroke. A stroke happens when part of the brain doesn't get the blood it needs. Strokes can kill brain cells. This may cause a person to lose control of their speech, movement, and memory.

Asian American/Pacific Islanders are less likely than whites to have suffered a stroke and they are less likely to die from a stroke. This group tends to have fewer risk factors for stroke, including being overweight, having high blood pressure, and smoking. Still, it is important to keep a healthy lifestyle to ensure that your risk remains low.

A stroke happens fast. Most people have two or more signs.

The most common signs are:

• sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (mainly on one side of the body)
• sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance
• sudden confusion or trouble talking or understanding speech
• sudden bad headache with no known cause

Women may also have these symptoms:

• sudden face and arm or leg pain
• sudden hiccups
• sudden nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
• sudden tiredness
• sudden chest pain
• sudden shortness of breath (feeling like you can't get enough air)
• sudden pounding or racing heartbeat

If you have any of these symptoms, call 911.

Take these steps to help prevent a stroke:

• Don't smoke. If you smoke, try to quit. For help along the way, check out our Quitting Smoking section.
• Keep a healthy weight.
• Get moving. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day, most days of the week. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Or, walk during breaks at work.
• Eat right. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) and blood glucose (sugar).

Publications

1.   Brain Basics: Preventing Stroke - This brochure provides information on stroke prevention and how to tell the signs of a stroke. It includes warning signs, an explanation of risk factors, and a description of treatable risk factors.

   http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/preventing_stroke.htm

2.     Filipinos Aspire for Healthy Hearts: Be Active for a Healthy Heart - This easy-to-read, bilingual Tagalog and English booklet explains the importance of daily physical activity in the prevention of heart disease.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/filipino_facts/filipino-pa.pdf...

3.     Filipinos Aspire for Healthy Hearts: Serve Up a Healthy Life - Give the Gift of Good Nutrition - This easy-to-read, bilingual Tagalog and English booklet talks about the heart health benefits of proper nutrition. In this color brochure, Filipino readers may learn about heart healthy cooking and eating tips.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/filipino_facts/filipino-nutrition.pdf...

4.   Frequently Asked Questions - Stroke - This publication contains information on stroke, what it is, what a mini stroke or transient ischemic attack is, the warning signs and effects of a stroke, where strokes occur, and how they affect the body. It also explains who is at risk for a stroke, prevention methods, diagnosis, and stroke rehabilitation.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/stroke.htm

5.   Know Stroke. Know the Signs. Act in Time - This publication contains information on what a stroke is, what the signs of someone having a stroke are, and what can be done to prevent stroke.

   http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/knowstroke.htm

6.     Vietnamese Aspire for Healthy Hearts: Be Active for a Healthier Heart - This easy-to-read, bilingual Vietnamese and English booklet explains the importance of daily physical activity in the prevention of heart disease.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/viet_facts/viet-pa.pdf

7.     Vietnamese Aspire for Healthy Hearts: Serve Up a Healthy Life - Give the Gift of Good Nutrition - This easy-to-read, bilingual Vietnamese and English booklet talks about the heart health benefits of proper nutrition.

   http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/viet_facts/viet-nutrition.pdf

8. Caring for Someone Who Has a Stroke (Copyright © AHA) - This fact sheet contains information on what a caregiver's role is when caring for someone who has had a stroke. It also provides information on where to go for help if you are feeling overwhelmed with your caregiving responsibilities.

   http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2875

Organizations

1.   CDC's WISEWOMAN™ - Well Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation
2.   National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, HHS
3.   Office of Minority Health Resource Center (OMHRC), OMH, OPHS, OS, HHS
4. American Stroke Association
5. National Asian Women's Health Organization

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of December 2007