Wednesday, March 26, 2003

Beating the odds

Minimizing risk in the Stroke Belt

Few Americans are aware of the great risks involved with stroke. However, even less realize that being born in a particular region or state, can increase their odds for a stroke by nearly 10 percent over the rest of the country.

Researchers have determined that by simply being born in what is commonly referred to as the "Stroke Belt" (the Southeastern United States including the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana) can greatly increase a persons risk for stroke.

In a recent study released by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, "Atlas of Stroke Morality: Racial, Ethnic, and Geographic Disparities in the United States," the state of Georgia was found on average to have a rate of 146 stroke deaths per every 100,000 people. The highest rate of stroke deaths came from female Caucasion-Americans as they accounted for 44 percent of all stroke-related deaths from 1991-1998. Male Caucasion-Americans were equal to 27 percent overall, followed by African-American women (16 percent) and African-American men (12 percent). Consequently, a total of 31,449 Georgians, over the age of 35 died from a stroke from 1991 through 1998, which averages 3,931 deaths per year from stroke.

Despite the high amount of stroke related deaths associated with each state in the "Stroke Belt", the matter of birthplace remains a constant concern. According to the article "Impact of Nativity and Race on 'Stroke Belt' Mortality, written by Daniel T. Lackland, DrPH, and printed in Hypertension (1999), there is evidence for a graded risk of stroke by birthplace, with those born in South Carolina at the highest risk. Those born in the Southeast are at an immediate risk, while anyone who is born outside of the southeast at the lowest risk for stroke.

Should people born in the "Stroke Belt" move out of the state, the risk of having a stroke will follow them regardless of where they take up residence.

Although it is unclear as to what factors make these particular states more prone to stroke than the rest of the country, the National Stroke Association suggests reasons such as:

Higher than average population of blacks.

Older population of adults.

Dietary factors.

Smoking habits.

Limited mobility.

"Almost all of us have seen friends or family members who have suffered the effects of stroke, and, with an aging population, we are likely to see an increase in stroke," said Dr. J. Crayton Pruitt, M.D., F.A.C.S., one of the nation's leading thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons. "A large number of us would like to have specific guidelines to reduce the chances for stroke in ourselves, our friends, or our family members."

Most strokes are caused when a blood vessel, which is feeding the brain, bursts or is clogged by a blood clot or some other particle or build up. The stroke occurs when the clot or particle becomes lodged in a blood vessel, therefore disrupting the flow of blood to the brain.

There are two main categories of stroke: hemorrhagic and ischemic. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures, while an ischemic refers to a blockage in an artery that breaks free or closes off any measurable blood flow to the brain.

Ischemic is the most common type of stroke and results from blockages due to a fatty plaque build up primarily in the carotid arteries. Fortunately, this type of blockage can be treated if detected early.

Preventive screenings, provided by companies such as Life Line Screening, are non-invasive and inexpensive. The cost for a stroke/carotid artery screening is $45, or a complete wellness package including screenings for abdominal aortic aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease (also known as hardening of the arteries) and osteoporosis is priced at $125 for all four screenings.

For information on how you can be screened and help reduce the risks associated with the "Stroke Belt" call 1-866-346-5433.

Risk factors of stroke include:

High blood pressure.

Heart disease ­ especially an irregular heart beat known as Arterial Fibrillation.

Smoking.

Diabetes.

High cholesterol.

Obesity/poor diet.

Warning signs include:

Numbness or weakness in face, arm, or leg.

Difficulty speaking.

Severe dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

Sudden dimness, loss of vision.

Sudden intense headache.

Brief loss of consciousness.

Stroke statistics:

There are 750,000 stroke victims every year.

160,000 strokes result in death.

266,000 survive the stroke with permanent disabilities.

Each year, 30,000 stroke survivors are new permanent admissions to nursing homes.

Physicians cannot typically order diagnostic carotid artery testing for an asymptomatic individual.

50 percent of the time the stroke victims show no prior symptoms.

The direct and indirect costs associated with stroke tally more then $300 billion per year.

Over the course of a lifetime, four out of every five American families will be affected by stroke.

Approximately one-third of all stroke survivors will have another stroke within five years.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of adult disability.

Stroke kills more than twice as many American women every year as breast cancer.