This year, at least 700,000 Americans will suffer a new or recurrent stroke, but no communities are at greater risk for stroke than the African American communities. Stroke is New Jersey’s No. 3 killer and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability, but stroke is preventable.
On May 18, during American Stroke Month, we had the privilege of representing the American Stroke Association in a ceremony at the New Jersey Statehouse to unveil just-released primary prevention guidelines for stroke by the American Stroke Assoc-iation/American Heart Assoc-iation and to launch the American Stroke Association’s Power to End Stroke. Power to End Stroke is a vibrant national campaign that raises awareness about stroke among African-Americans.
Within recent months and years, Kirby Puckett, Luther Vandross, Angela Bofil, Robert Guillaume and Coretta Scott King have all suffered a stroke. This year alone nearly 100,000 African-Americans will suffer a stroke, says the American Stroke Association. The ramifications can be deadly, and overwhelming for the stroke victims and their families.
Led by Yolanda King – daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King – and other African-American leaders throughout the country, American Stroke Association’s Power to End Stroke is supported nationally by the Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership and mobilizes opinion leaders to become ambassadors and inspire African-Americans and blacks to reduce stroke in their communities. Blacks have higher death rates for strokes compared to whites, and the prevalence of high blood pressure in African- Americans in the United States is the highest in the world. With proper education and action we can reduce our risk for stroke, as well as disability and death from stroke. That is the aim of Power to End Stroke.
We have the power right here, right now, the Power to End Stroke among African-Americans in New Jersey. Take the pledge and become a Power to End Stroke ambassador. Learn more about Power to End Stroke and free stroke screenings in your area by calling the American Stroke Association at (888) 478-7653.
Philip Bonaparte, M.D.
Yvonne Wesley, R.N.
representatives
American Stroke
Association
North Brunswick