Uncas Health District has been awarded a grant from the Connecticut Department of Public Health to improve awareness and knowledge within the Norwich African American community about:

• The prevention of heart disease and stroke risk factors
• The importance of testing for and controlling high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes
• The signs and symptoms of heart disease and stroke

BLACKS are TWO TIMES more likely to have a STROKE

Why African Americans?

• According to the American Stroke Association, African Americans develop hypertension at an earlier age than Whites, tend to have more severe high blood pressure and are less likely to receive treatment. The prevalence of high blood pressure among US African Americans is the highest in the world, and they tend to have twice the risk of Whites of a first-time stroke.
• According to the American Diabetes Association, since 2002 more than 3.2 million African Americans older than 20 have been diagnosed with diabetes - a rate nearly twice that of Whites. The death rates from diabetes among African Americans are 27% higher than Whites.
• Of Connecticut residents reporting having 2 or more cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, 48.7% identified themselves as African American.
• African American men in New London County between the ages of 35 and 44 have over twice the rate of death from heart disease as White men in their age group.
• Less than 25% of African Americans get regular physical activity. 33% identify themselves as smokers and fewer than 25% report eating 5 fruits or vegetables daily.

What will Uncas Health District be doing?

• The Search Your Heart Program: The nine session Educational Series will focus on nutrition, diabetes, physical activity, and will be offered through faith-based communities, workplaces and African American organizations.
• A Promotional Campaign: Uncas Health District will raise community awareness through websites, TV, radio, newspaper, libraries, schools, churches and food banks.

Know the Facts About African Americans and Stroke

Heart disease and stroke are major health risks for all people. But African Americans are at particularly high risk.

Consider this:

• Blacks have almost twice the risk of first-ever strokes compared to whites.
• Blacks have higher death rates for stroke compared to whites.
• The prevalence of high blood pressure in African Americans in the United States is the highest in the world.
• Among non-Hispanic blacks age 20 and older, 62.9 percent of men and 77.2 percent of women are overweight or obese.
• In 2001, 27.7 percent of black or African-Americans only, used any tobacco product. Heavy cigarette smoking approximately doubles a person's risk for stroke when compared to light smokers.
• Black women have higher prevalence rates of high blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity and diabetes than white women.

Unlike a stroke, when a TIA occurs, the blood clot resolves itself and there's no permanent injury. When a stroke occurs and part of your brain dies from lack of blood flow, the part of the body it controls is affected. Strokes can cause paralysis, affect language and vision, and cause other problems.