Commentary: Celebrate World Stroke Day by checking your blood pressure
By Dr. Kenneth Rhinehart
Oct. 29 is World Stroke Day. Worldwide, stroke is the No. 2 cause of death and a leading cause of serious disability. Stroke is the fifth leading killer in the U.S. and is the fourth leading cause of death in Forsyth County. Stroke happens when a clot or rupture interrupts blood flow to the brain. Without oxygen-rich blood, brain cells die and every minute matters.
Now, for some good news! Up to 80 percent of strokes can be prevented. Most people who have a first stroke have high blood pressure. High blood pressure, often referred to as the silent killer, is a leading cause for stroke. According to the American Stroke Association, every 10 mmHg drop in systolic blood pressure equates to an average 41 percent reduction in stroke risk. Everyone should aim for a normal blood pressure of below 120/80.
85.7 million Americans have high blood pressure and nearly 1 in every 6 Americans that has high BP, doesn’t know they have it. A very important fact: high blood pressure discriminates. Blacks develop high blood pressure earlier in life and their average blood pressures are higher than the blood pressures of whites. In fact, 91.3 percent of African-Americans have high blood pressure. Also, 46.3 percent of black women have high blood pressure.
On World Stroke Day – take ownership of your own cardiovascular health. Have your blood pressure checked and keep checking it every two weeks to help reduce your risk of stroke.
Novant Health and the American Heart Association have joined together to focus on making a community impact in the blood pressure of Forsyth County residents this year. The goal of engaging 5,000 people with Check. Change. Control. in Forsyth County will have a significant impact on the health of our community.
The focus of the program includes developing positive self-monitoring habits, sharing tools and tips to improve blood pressure, and reducing this risk factor for heart disease and stroke by dropping BP levels to a healthy 120/80.
Get your blood pressure checked today and track your BP for free at www.heart.org/CheckItTriad. Use code: CCCNH to get personalized tips on how to better control your BP. It is mobile friendly and will send you a notification when it is time to recheck your BP.
For more information about stroke and to find a complete list of the stroke F.A.S.T. warning signs, visit www.StrokeAssociation.org.
Dr. Kenneth Rhinehart is with Novant Health Cardiology.
