African Americans at Risk of Strokes
By: Ashley Zilka
Updated: February 25, 2013
Each year, almost 800,000 strokes occur in the United States. Doctors say there are ways to reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease. It's all about spreading awareness before the first stroke.
"I started doing things that I normally didn't do when I was bowling. The ball kept going into the gutter," said Marsha Jones.
Marsha Jones had a stroke a day later. Now, she's helping spread awareness.
Dr. Chris Burke of Unity Hospital says stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States.
"The way we prevent stroke is a lot like the way we prevent heart attacks. Good blood pressure control. Tight control of diabetes, cholesterol, don't smoke, taking an aspirin a day for the right people," said Dr. Burke, Medical Director of Stroke Center at Unity Hospital.
As part of Black History Month, the American Heart Association is working to educate people on the risks of cardiovascular disease. The disease kills nearly 100,000 African Americans each year.
African Americans are twice as likely to have a first-ever stroke compared to Caucasians. Doctors believe there are specific reasons for this.
"Upwards of 40 to 45 percent of adult African Americans have hypertension. In contrast to, Non-Hispanic, Caucasians who are about 20 to 25 percent," said Burke.
Doctors say strokes can happen to anyone at anytime. It's something Marsha learned while she was in the hospital.
"There was a girl there. She was a full-time student. She worked a full-time job and she was only 23-years-old and she had a stroke. I thought strokes only happened to people over the age of 50 and she was 23," said Jones.
It took three years but Marsha can now bowl. The stroke survivor has limited mobility in her left leg and arm.
"I started doing things that I normally didn't do when I was bowling. The ball kept going into the gutter," said Marsha Jones.
Marsha Jones had a stroke a day later. Now, she's helping spread awareness.
Dr. Chris Burke of Unity Hospital says stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States.
"The way we prevent stroke is a lot like the way we prevent heart attacks. Good blood pressure control. Tight control of diabetes, cholesterol, don't smoke, taking an aspirin a day for the right people," said Dr. Burke, Medical Director of Stroke Center at Unity Hospital.
As part of Black History Month, the American Heart Association is working to educate people on the risks of cardiovascular disease. The disease kills nearly 100,000 African Americans each year.
African Americans are twice as likely to have a first-ever stroke compared to Caucasians. Doctors believe there are specific reasons for this.
"Upwards of 40 to 45 percent of adult African Americans have hypertension. In contrast to, Non-Hispanic, Caucasians who are about 20 to 25 percent," said Burke.
Doctors say strokes can happen to anyone at anytime. It's something Marsha learned while she was in the hospital.
"There was a girl there. She was a full-time student. She worked a full-time job and she was only 23-years-old and she had a stroke. I thought strokes only happened to people over the age of 50 and she was 23," said Jones.
It took three years but Marsha can now bowl. The stroke survivor has limited mobility in her left leg and arm.
