MAY IS STROKE AWARENESS MONTH:
BURDEN OF STROKE REMAINS HIGH FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN (AND WOMEN)
Imagine: You are fine one day, going
to work, going out with friends, helping
your children or grandchildren with their
homework. The next day you are in the
hospital, dependent on others for your basic
needs, yet you are unable to speak clearly,
not able to button your own shirt, or even
walk without assistance. This happened to
Gladys Lundy at 45 years of age, while on
a business trip. She had a stroke. Gladys
spent over 4 years in a nursing home
recuperating; learning how to regain control
of her health and life.
The incidence of first strokes
remained unchanged from 1999 to 2005
for blacks, yet declined for whites by over
25%, with 3% of blacks of all ages expected
to have a stroke each year, compared to 2%
of whites. Black men ages 45 to 54 are four
times more likely each year to have a stroke
or TIA (“mini-stroke”) than their white
counter-parts. (Black women of the same
age group are “only” 3 times as likely to
experience these events).
The members of the Minority Women’s
Health Project see stroke prevention as a
high priority. Women are doubly impacted
by stroke. While they need to manage their
own risk factors, if someone in their family
does have a stroke, the responsibilities for
care-giving and medical decision-making
often falls mainly on daughters and wives.
A stroke is a lack of blood flow to
a vital area of the brain, causing brain
cells to die at 2 million cells per minute.
Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death for
African Americans in NC and the leading
cause of serious long-term disability.
The biggest risk factors associated
with stroke are medical problems like high
blood pressure, diabetes, and heart rhythm
problems known as atrial fibrillation
(“a-fib”). Behaviors like smoking, lack
of physical activity, and being overweight
or obese from poor diet also increase the
risk for stroke. Yet data shows that African
Americans in North Carolina are less likely
than whites to engage in physical exercise,
and are more likely to be obese. Only for
rates of smoking is the situation about
equal, with 22% still smoking.
77% of people who have a stroke
also have hypertension. High blood
pressure rates among African Americans
in the US is among the highest in the world,
with 42% of blacks in NC reporting that
they have been told they have high blood
pressure. African Americans tend to have
an earlier onset of hypertension, and show
increased rate of kidney damage and heart
failure due to long-term effects of high
blood pressure. While losing weight and
reducing salt intake can help, the most
important thing to do to manage your blood
pressure is to seek medical advice and take
prescribed medications if they are ordered.
Do you know if you have or anyone
in your family has “a-fib”? About 1 in 5
strokes are caused by clots formed in the
heart due to atrial fibrillation (“a-fib”),
which then move to the blood vessels of the
brain. Yet one study has shown that blacks
were 1/3 less likely to know they had “a-fib”,
and only ¼ as likely to be receiving a
medication that could reduced the formation
of these clots. You can only know this by
getting a test known as an EKG at your
doctor’s office. It may not show up the first
time you are tested, so routine checkups are
important.
When you or someone you know
has a sudden onset of signs of a stroke
(facial droop, arm weakness on one side,
speech that is garbled or confused), the
most important things to do are note the
time it started and call 911 to get to
the hospital in the fastest way. In one
study in Washington DC, only 3% of blacks
received an important clot-busting drug,
compared to 10% of whites. One major
cause of the difference in treatment was
not arriving at the hospital in time or not
knowing exactly when the symptoms started.
The Minority Women Health Project
([email protected]) organized
‘Triangle Stroke”. Triangle Stroke has
collaborated with UNC Rex Hospital, Duke
Raleigh Hospital, The Links, Zeta Phi Beta
Sorority, Association of Strong Black Men,
American Heart Association, Chi Eta Phi
Sorority, Self-Awareness Ministries, Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority, Saint Matthews AME
Church, Lincolnville AME Church, Oak City
Baptist Church, Saint James AME Church and
others. JOIN US!! Triangle Stroke meetings
are the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 12:30
at St. Matthew AME Church, 1629 Bennett
St., Raleigh NC 27604.
The burden of stroke is high for
African-Americans. However, taking action
to reduce your risks and seeking attention
FAST is crucial. Time lost is Brain lost call:
911.
To learn more about stroke prevention and
health and wellness issues, contact Triangle
Stroke ([email protected])
www.spectacularmag.com | May 2014 | SPECTACULAR MAGAZINE
CINDERELLA
SURGERY:
WOMEN CLIPPING THEIR
FEET TO FIT DESIGNER
SHOES
NEW YORK, NY - There is a new fad going
around in plastic surgeon’s offices across the
US – that of clipping, trimming and padding
feet so that women can fit into designer shoes.
They call it the “Cinderella Surgery”.
Just like the girl from the fairy tale,
women are having their feet altered so that
they can fit into shoes that they only dream of
wearing. The surgery involves the shortening
or len