less likely to be diagnosed with the condition, which may be related to race or ethnicity. Black adults also have a higher prevalence of stroke and the highest death rate from stroke compared to any other racial group. Getting to the Heart of Stroke will address these disparities through local health impact work in select communities. Focus areas may include women’s health and wellbeing, high blood pressure management, nutrition security or tobacco/vaping prevention. “What’s good for the heart is good for the brain, but the reverse is also true: problems with the heart, including AFib, are well-documented as major stroke risk factors,” says Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, American Heart Association. “To effectively combat stroke, we need to work together and elevate the heart-brain connection among health care professionals, while simultaneously addressing health disparities and resource gaps in our communities. We are not a one-size-fits-all nation, and neither is the most successful approach to public health.”
Know your risk Stroke prevention starts with knowing the risk factors that increase the likelihood of having a stroke. Identifying the underlying cause of a stroke is also crucial to preventing subsequent strokes. Common risk factors include obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, alcohol or drug abuse, or heart disease. If you have any of these risk factors, it is important to discuss them with your doctor to manage and reduce your chance of stroke. For example, patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation are up to five times more likely to experience a stroke. The American Heart Association’s patient support network, MyAFibExperience, empowers individuals to better understand and manage their stroke risk. As part of the Getting to the Heart of StrokeTM initiative, the American Heart Association will work alongside the HCA Healthcare Foundation and HCA Healthcare to implement community education as well as provide professional education focused on identifying stroke risk factors projected through the lens of equitable health for all.
10 The Acumen
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