What is Stroke?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a stroke sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when something blocks blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. In either case, parts of the brain become damaged or die. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death. There are health conditions and lifestyle habits that can increase your risk for stroke including hypertension.
How Does Stroke Affect African American Populations?
- African Americans are 50 percent more likely to have a stroke (cerebrovascular disease), as compared to their white adult counterparts.
- Black men are 70 percent more likely to die from a stroke as compared to non-Hispanic whites.
- African American women are twice as likely to have a stroke as compared to non-Hispanic white women.
Diagnosed Cases of Stroke
Age-adjusted percentage of stroke among persons 18 years of age and over, 2018
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio | |
| Men | 3.2 | 3.1 | 1.0 |
| Women | 4.6 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
| Total | 4.0 | 2.7 | 1.5 |
Source: CDC 2022. Summary Health Statistics: National Health Interview Survey: 2018. Table A-1a.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/shs/tables.htm
Death Rate
Age-adjusted stroke death rates per 100,000 (2018)
| Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black / Non-Hispanic White Ratio | |
| Men | 59.0 | 35.7 | 1.7 |
| Women | 48.0 | 35.6 | 1.3 |
| Total | 53.0 | 36.0 | 1.7 |
Source: CDC 2022. National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 69, No. 13. Table 10.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr69/nvsr69-13-508.pdf [PDF | 2.05MB]
Risk Factors
There are several risk factors related to stroke. Some of these risk factors are:
Obesity and Overweight – See Obesity and African Americans
Hypertension – See Heart Disease and African Americans
High Cholesterol – See Heart Disease and African Americans
Cigarette Smoking – See Heart Disease and African Americans
Prevent and Manage Stroke
There are things that you can do to prevent and manage stroke:
Nutrition: Eat healthy diet (increase fresh fruits and vegetables and lower salt intake)
Weight: Maintain a healthy weight
Exercise: Be physically active (seek advice from your doctor)
Smoking: Do not smoke
Alcohol: Limit alcohol intake
Source: CDC 2022. Prevent Stroke: What You Can Do. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/prevention.htm