Urban Thought Collective

The month of May is “American Stroke Month,” and it is always a busy month for me. I am a national spokesperson for the American Stroke Association’s (ASA) Power to End Stroke (PTES) Campaign.

Did you know that strokes are the third leading cause of death in America, and can lead to disability and even death among its victims? African Americans are twice as likely to die from strokes than Caucasian Americans, and the rate of first strokes among African Americans is almost double that of Caucasians. Although the condition is more common among men, strokes actually kill more women each year.

Well, I have been on a mission to get the message out in 2008, and began to accelerate my efforts in April. I traveled to Buffalo and spoke before 300 people about the PTES messages with R&B artist Darryl Anthony of the singing group “AZ Yet.” Two days later, I was in Manhattan, NY with the one and only BeBe Winans. We completed a media tour together and discussed stroke and its impact on our communities.

BeBe, a really cool brother by the way, lost both his sibling Ronald and good friend Luther Vandross to this dreaded disease. His commitment and dedication to educating the masses is like no other.

One day later, I was in Atlanta, GA at the PTES Power Awards Weekend. The event was filmed and will air on the Word Network soon. Pastors Deborah and Lyle Dukes, Dr. Bobby Jones, and “AZ Yet” were just a few of those honored. I ended my travels discussing PTES messages with the legendary Chuck D on his XM satellite radio show, “On the Real.”

I’m on a roll, so let’s keep it going. My goal is to educate and/or refresh your knowledge on stroke. What is a stroke? What are the risk factors, signs and symptoms? Why are African Americans so disproportionately affected? What are the myths about stroke, and how do we combat this disease?

Here are some truly shocking statistics:

Stroke is the number three killer of Americans in the United States and a leading cause of long-term disability. 110,000 African Americans suffer a stroke each year, resulting in about 18,000 deaths. Even more alarming is the fact that we are twice as likely to have a stroke as white Americans. These numbers only reinforce why it is so important to get the message out about stroke. It is a preventable and treatable disease.

Strokes are also known as “brain attacks,” they occur when blood flow to the brain is suddenly interrupted. They are medically classified under the umbrella of heart disease, which is the number one killer of all Americans regardless of race, gender, or ethnicity.

Risk Factors: The risks factors that we have control over include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or hypertension, diabetes, physical inactivity, and obesity. The risk factors that we cannot control include age, a family history of stroke, previous stroke, race, and gender. Being active has tremendous benefits, and if coupled with healthy eating and proper rest, one can: control his/her weight, improve cholesterol levels and blood pressure, prevent bone loss, boost energy levels, improve stress levels and improve overall self image. The risk for stroke increases as we get older.

Warning Signs: The warning signs for a stroke include: a sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; and sudden severe headache with no known cause.

The African American Factor: Medicine and research have not clearly delineated why African Americans are more at risk for strokes than other ethnic groups, but we do know that high blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke. One in three African Americans has high blood pressure/hypertension. Diabetes also runs rampant in the African American community, and is another major risk factor for this disease. African Americans with sickle cell anemia also run a high risk for strokes. Anybody with risk factors should see a doctor on a regular basis, eat healthy, exercise, and of course, take medicines as prescribed.

Dispelling Myths: There are many myths about stroke that need to be cleared up. Some believe that strokes are unpreventable. That is absolutely not true. Taking charge of your health and establishing a relationship with your doctor is one important step in stroke prevention. Also, you should initiate life style changes like exercising, losing weight, smoking cessation, and controlling your blood pressure and diabetes to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Another popular myth about strokes is that they cannot be treated, and only happen to the elderly. Wrong again! Strokes can happen to persons young and old, but if the warning signs are recognized, a stroke can be treated.

We can take control of our health! We must learn the risk factors for stroke, see our doctors on a regular basis, learn our family history, exercise, eat healthy, stop smoking, and take our medicines as prescribed to control diabetes and high blood pressure.

We have the power! You have the power! Together we have the power to end stroke!

For more information on strokes visit www.strokeassociation.org or visit my website at www.h2doc.com and shoot me a question at DrRani@h2doc.com.

Dr. Rani Whitfield is a board certified Family Practice and Sports Medicine Physician who lives in Baton Rouge, LA. He is affectionately known as “Tha Hip Hop Doc,” as he uses music and medicine to educate young people on health issues. His dispatches on health and lifestyle can be found regularly on Urban Thought Collective.