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Susan M. Morgan, CFCS
County Extension Agent
Family and Consumer Education
Bolivia, NC 28422
May 1999

Has your body been trying to tell you something? Have you noticed one or more of the following?

• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, and leg on one side of the body.
• Loss of speech or trouble talking or understanding speech.
• Dimness or loss of vision, particularly in only one eye.
• Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness, or sudden falls, especially along with any of the previous symptoms.
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

What: A stroke is a brain attack and occurs when a blood vessel bursts or becomes clogged and interrupts the flow of blood to the brain or to a section of the brain.

When: Strokes occur most often on Mondays between 8:00 a.m. and 12 noon during the winter, but could occur any time.

Where: The highest rate of stroke is in the southeastern United States, commonly known as the "stroke belt". North Carolina has the second highest rate of stroke in the United States, surpassed only by South Carolina.

Why: Some factors that increase the risk of a brain attack are genetically determined, others are simply a function of natural processes, but some result from a person's lifestyle. Factors resulting from heredity or natural processes can't be changed, but others can be modified with a doctor's help.

Hereditary or Uncontrollable Risk Factors

• Age--The older a person gets, the greater the stroke risk.
• Gender--Men are at higher risk for stroke than women.
• Race--African-Americans have a greater stroke risk than Anglo- Americans.
• Heredity--People who have close blood relatives who've had an attack are at higher risk of stroke themselves.
• Diabetes mellitus--Diabetics have a higher risk of stroke.

• Sedentary Lifestyle and Obesity--Being inactive, obese or both can increase blood pressure and make the accumulation of cholesterol in artery walls more likely. Increased physical activity can help decrease weight and reduce stress also. (Be sure to see your physician before beginning any exercise program.)
• Hypertension--The most important modifiable risk factor for stroke is elevated blood pressure. Reducing the amount of sodium you consume may help avoid high blood pressure. (Diseases of the heart and blood vessels are the number one cause of death in the United States.)
• Cholesterol--High blood cholesterol increases the buildup of fats in artery walls, increasing the risk of heart disease. Dietary changes can lower blood cholesterol levels.
• Alcohol--More than two drinks a day raises blood pressure. Binge drinking can lead to a stroke.
• Smoking--Smoking increases blood pressure, reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, thickens the blood, and makes clots more likely to form.
• Drug Abuse--Intravenous drug abuse carries a high risk of stroke from cerebral embolisms.

Why do North Carolinians have the second highest rate of stroke in the Unites States? High rates of high blood pressure, diets high in fat and salt, heavy smokers, high rates of diabetes, and low rates of exercise. Do your part to prevent strokes now! Know the warning signs and risks factors. (Information for this article was compiled from the American Heart Association materials, John Hopkins White Paper, Stroke, and North Carolina Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force.)

For more information call Susan Morgan, CFCS, at the Brunswick County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Bolivia at 253-2610 or address your request to her at P. O. Box 109, Bolivia, NC 28422.

The information presented is for educational purposes only. References to trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service is implied.

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URL Address: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/brunswick/

Date Created 7/21/99
Last Revised 7/21/99