Stroke

Minority Women's Health > American Indians/Alaska Natives > Stroke

• Additional Resources

Stroke is a major cause of death and disability. A stroke occurs when part of your brain doesn't get the blood that it needs. Depending on the parts of the brain damaged by a stroke, people who survive a stroke can have problems with:

• Movement
• Sensations
• Language
• Thinking and memory
• Emotions

A stroke happens fast. The most common signs of stroke are sudden:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (mainly on one side of the body)
• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance
• Confusion or trouble talking or understanding speech
• Very bad headache with no known cause

Women may also have other sudden symptoms, such as feeling sick to your stomach, face and arm or leg pain, hiccups, feeling very tired, chest pain, shortness of breath, or a racing heartbeat.

If you have any of these symptoms, call 911. Getting treatment within 3 hours from the start of symptoms increases your chances of walking away from a stroke with few or no disabilities.

American Indian and Alaska Native women have twice the stroke rate as white women. They also are more likely to die from stroke. Native women have high rates of some risk factors that make stroke more likely, such as:  

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Cigarette smoking
• Lack of physical activity
• Family history of stroke

The good news is that you can take steps to lower your risk of stroke:

• Keep a healthy weight.
• Make physical activity a habit. Health benefits are gained by doing the following each week:
  • 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity
    or
    
  • 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity
    or
    
  • A combination of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity
    and
    
  • Muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days of the week
• Eat heart-healthy foods. Eat whole-grain foods, vegetables, and fruit. Choose lean meats and low-fat cheese and dairy products. Limit foods that have lots of saturated fat, like butter, whole milk, baked goods, ice cream, fatty meats, and cheese.
• Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. Follow your doctor’s orders to keep your cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels under control.
• Don't smoke. If you smoke, try to quit. For help along the way, check out our Quitting Smoking section.

Additional Resources

Publications

1.   American Indian and Alaska Native Heart Disease and Stroke Fact Sheet — this web page lists facts and statistics about heart disease and stroke among American Indians and Alaska Natives. It also provides links to publications on how to reduce your risk.

   http://www.cdc.gov/DHDSP/library/fs_aian.htm

2.   American Indian and Alaska Native Women's Health — This site offers information for health service providers and consumers about American Indian and Alaska Native women's health. It discusses cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, cardiovascular disease, and access to care.

   http://www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/MCH/W/index.cfm

3.   American Indian Health — This website is an information portal to information about the health of native peoples of the United States. The topics include cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and environmental health.

   http://americanindianhealth.nlm.nih.gov/

4.   Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke Among American Indians and Alaska Natives — The Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke Among American Indians and Alaska Natives is the fourth in a series of CDC atlases related to cardiovascular disease. However, it is the first to focus on geographic patterns of heart disease and stroke mortality and risk factors for a specific racial/ethnic group in the United States. The Atlas provides insights into the geographic disparities in heart disease and stroke experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives.

   http://www.cdc.gov/DHDSP/library/aian_atlas/index.htm

5.   Brain Basics: Preventing Stroke — This brochure provides information on stroke prevention. It includes stroke warning signs, an explanation of risk factors, and a description of treatable risk factors.

   http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/preventing_stroke.htm

6.   Know Stroke. Know the Signs. Act in Time. — This publication features information on what a stroke is, the signs and symptoms of stroke, and what can be done to prevent a stroke.

   http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/knowstroke.htm

7.   Statistical Fact Sheet: American Indians/Alaska Natives and Cardiovascular Diseases (Copyright © American Heart Association) — This publication discusses factors behind the high incidence of heart disease and stroke among American Indians and Alaska Natives.

   http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1168553154544FS02AMIN07.pdf

8. The Brain — Effects of Stroke (Copyright © American Medical Association) — This colorful diagram of the brain shows the damage a stroke can do and includes a glossary of stroke-related terms.

   http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/patient-education-materials/atlas-of-human-body/brain-e...

Organizations

1.   Indian Health Service
2.   National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, HHS
3.   National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, HHS
4. American Heart Association
5. American Stroke Association
6. National Stroke Association

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated May 18, 2010.