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Stroke
Minority Women's Health > African Americans > 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.
African Americans are affected by stroke more than any other group. The rate of stroke in African-American women is almost twice that of white women. African American women also have a higher risk of dying from a stroke than white women. African Americans tend to have higher rates of these risk factors for stroke: high blood pressure, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, obesity, family history of stroke, and no leisure exercise.
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
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
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
Stroke - This fact sheet provides information on strokes and offers tips for stroke prevention. It also gives a list of warning signs that may indicate a stroke is happening. http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/stroke.asp
Stroke and African Americans - This publication provides numerous statistics about African Americans and stroke. http://www.omhrc.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=3022
Stroke: Hope Through Research - This brochure contains comprehensive information on stroke, including information on what a stroke is, what the risk factors are, and what research is being conducted in this area. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/detail_stroke.htm
African Americans and Stroke (Copyright © NSA) - This web site links to information for African Americans from the National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AAMER
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
Reducing Stroke in African Americans (Copyright © NSA) - This brochure educates African Americans about stroke risk facts and signs of a stroke. http://www.stroke.org/site/DocServer/AFAM.broch.pdf?docID=581
The Brain - Effects of Stroke (Copyright © AMA) - The American Medical Association (AMA) offers a colorful and easy-to-understand diagram of the brain and how it is affected by a stroke. A glossary is also included on this page that provides explanations of the scientific terms used in describing the effects of stroke on the brain. http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/7146.html
Women and Stroke: Unique Symptoms in Women (Copyright © ASA) - This fact sheet describes the unique symptoms that women may experience when having a stroke, in comparison to the general symptoms that both men and women may experience. It also provides guidelines on how to act "F.A.S.T." and respond to an emergency situation. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=WOMSYMP
Organizations
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CDC's WISEWOMAN™ - Well Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Information Center, NHLBI, NIH, HHS
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, HHS
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American Heart Association
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National Stroke Association
= Indicates Federal Resources
Current as of December 2007
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