National Medical Association issues stroke advisory

By Jaylen Christie
jaylen@bdaviscomm.com

     The National Medical Association (NMA), representing the interests of the 50,000 African American physicians in the U.S., has issued the following advisory regarding stroke awareness:

In the United States, Black people are more likely to have strokes compared to other racial groups. This is mainly due to a greater chance of having health issues that can cause a stroke. The Office of Minority Health states that Black men in the United States have a 50% greater chance of having a stroke compared to White men while Black women are twice as likely to have a stroke compared to White women. In regards to percentages, Black men are 70% more likely to die from a stroke than their White counterparts and Black women are 30% more likely to die from it. 

Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke. Additionally, nearly 185,000 strokes are in people who have had a stroke previously. Moreover, the risk of having a first stroke is nearly twice as high for non-Hispanic Black adults as for White adults.

There are several risk factors for this that may include:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Sickle cell disease
• Unhealthy diets
• Lack of physical activity

To reduce risk of stroke, here are some things to consider:

• Increase intake of fruits and vegetables
• Stop smoking
• Manage stress very carefully
• Reduce salt in your diet
• Exercise regularly
• Work to lose excess body weight

For more information, visit CDC.gov or speak with your healthcare provider.