Researchers

have determined that by simply being born in what is commonly referred

to as the "Stroke Belt" (the Southeastern United States including

the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida,

Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana)

can greatly increase a persons risk for stroke.

In a recent

study released by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and

Health Promotion, "Atlas of Stroke Morality: Racial, Ethnic, and

Geographic Disparities in the United States," the state of Georgia

was found on average to have a rate of 146 stroke deaths per every 100,000

people. The highest rate of stroke deaths came from female Caucasion-Americans

as they accounted for 44 percent of all stroke-related deaths from 1991-1998.

Male Caucasion-Americans were equal to 27 percent overall, followed by

African-American women (16 percent) and African-American men (12 percent).

Consequently, a total of 31,449 Georgians, over the age of 35 died from

a stroke from 1991 through 1998, which averages 3,931 deaths per year

from stroke.

Despite the

high amount of stroke related deaths associated with each state in the

"Stroke Belt", the matter of birthplace remains a constant concern.

According to the article "Impact of Nativity and Race on 'Stroke

Belt' Mortality, written by Daniel T. Lackland, DrPH, and printed in Hypertension

(1999), there is evidence for a graded risk of stroke by birthplace, with

those born in South Carolina at the highest risk. Those born in the Southeast

are at an immediate risk, while anyone who is born outside of the southeast

at the lowest risk for stroke.

Should people

born in the "Stroke Belt" move out of the state, the risk of

having a stroke will follow them regardless of where they take up residence.

Although it

is unclear as to what factors make these particular states more prone

to stroke than the rest of the country, the National Stroke Association

suggests reasons such as:

Higher than

average population of blacks.

Older population

of adults.

Dietary factors.

Smoking habits.

Limited mobility.

"Almost

all of us have seen friends or family members who have suffered the effects

of stroke, and, with an aging population, we are likely to see an increase

in stroke," said Dr. J. Crayton Pruitt, M.D., F.A.C.S., one of the

nation's leading thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons. "A large number

of us would like to have specific guidelines to reduce the chances for

stroke in ourselves, our friends, or our family members."

Most strokes

are caused when a blood vessel, which is feeding the brain, bursts or

is clogged by a blood clot or some other particle or build up. The stroke

occurs when the clot or particle becomes lodged in a blood vessel, therefore

disrupting the flow of blood to the brain.

There are two

main categories of stroke: hemorrhagic and ischemic. A hemorrhagic stroke

occurs when a blood vessel ruptures, while an ischemic refers to a blockage

in an artery that breaks free or closes off any measurable blood flow

to the brain.

Ischemic is

the most common type of stroke and results from blockages due to a fatty

plaque build up primarily in the carotid arteries. Fortunately, this type

of blockage can be treated if detected early.

Preventive

screenings, provided by companies such as Life Line Screening, are non-invasive

and inexpensive. The cost for a stroke/carotid artery screening is $45,

or a complete wellness package including screenings for abdominal aortic

aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease (also known as hardening of the

arteries) and osteoporosis is priced at $125 for all four screenings.

For information

on how you can be screened and help reduce the risks associated with the

"Stroke Belt" call 1-866-346-5433.

Risk factors

of stroke include:

High blood

pressure.

Heart disease

­ especially an irregular heart beat known as Arterial Fibrillation.

Smoking.

Diabetes.

High cholesterol.

Obesity/poor

diet.

Warning signs

include:

Numbness or

weakness in face, arm, or leg.

Difficulty

speaking.

Severe dizziness,

loss of balance or coordination.

Sudden dimness,

loss of vision.

Sudden intense

headache.

Brief loss

of consciousness.

Stroke statistics:

There are

750,000 stroke victims every year.

160,000 strokes

result in death.

266,000 survive

the stroke with permanent disabilities.

Each year,

30,000 stroke survivors are new permanent admissions to nursing homes.

Physicians

cannot typically order diagnostic carotid artery testing for an asymptomatic

individual.

50 percent

of the time the stroke victims show no prior symptoms.

The direct

and indirect costs associated with stroke tally more then $300 billion

per year.

Over the course

of a lifetime, four out of every five American families will be affected

Approximately

one-third of all stroke survivors will have another stroke within five

years.

Stroke is

one of the leading causes of adult disability.

Stroke kills

more than twice as many American women every year as breast cancer.

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