Link between depression, stroke risk among black Americans

Racial disparity is a longstanding issue in health care. A study showing the need for more research and action linked depression among black Americans and stroke risk:

The study, based on the ongoing Jackson Heart Study in Jackson, Miss., included more than 3,300 blacks between 21 and 94 years old who were screened for depression. None of the participants had a history of heart attack or stroke.

But more than 22 percent had major depression at the start of the study, and over the course of 10 years, they had a higher risk of heart disease (5.6 percent vs. 3.6 percent) and stroke (3.7 percent vs. 2.6 percent) than those without depression, the researchers found.

Participants with depression were more likely to be women, have chronic health problems, get less exercise, have lower incomes, smoke, and have a higher body mass index (BMI), an estimate of body fat based on height and weight.

You've seen other news about depression as related to stroke risk, too. It's a series issue for all of us. And, perhaps, particularly an issue for some populations.

Checking blood pressure at barbershops

I've seen similar stories before, but the idea of checking blood pressure at barbershops is not a bad idea at all. In fact, it's a great idea. This particular story is from Texas....

Haircuts, hypertension, and black-owned barbershops:

In a unique randomized trial, African American men who were patrons of black-owned barbershops in Dallas County, where they had their BP regularly measured and were encouraged to contact a physician when it was elevated, showed a mean 7.8-mm-Hg drop in systolic pressure over 10 months.

That was only 2.5-mm-Hg more of a drop (p=0.08) than seen in a comparator group of men who had received standard educational pamphlets on high BP in African Americans, but no BP checks or other encouragement to assess blood pressure, at the barbershops.

"That doesn't sound like much of a blood-pressure fall for any one person, but at the population level it's a very large effect," lead author Dr Ronald G Victor (Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, Los Angeles, CA) observed for heartwire.

Despite some progress, disparities remain

This article by Reuters Health illustrates how strokes can impact. Despite age or race, this problem impacts us all, and we're all better off if we all work to reduce stroke risks:

Strokes in young blacks drain South Carolina's pocket:

In South Carolina, African Americans suffer strokes at younger ages and have worse outcomes than Caucasians, Dr. Wayne Feng and colleagues report in the latest issue of the medical journal Stroke.

They point out that in their state, lifetime costs for strokes that occurred in 2006 alone, including lost earnings, are likely to total $1.92 billion.

The persistent racial disparities in stroke "result in significant economic consequences to the state, particularly among younger patients," the researchers conclude.

Barber shops and blood pressure

Now this is a good idea - how barber shops serve up blood pressure checks:

Nu-Image, Just the Way You Like It and Sly's each offered free blood pressure checks and educational materials to African Americans, who are twice as likely to have a stroke as white Americans.

Janelle Holder-Williams of the American Stroke Association said the idea of reaching out to black men in barber shops is simple: "We wanted to reach the men where they are. Historically, the barber shop was also a hospital for the black community, because there was little else. ..."

Holder-Williams said after the age of 35, black men are four times more likely to suffer a stroke than white men.

This was targeting a particular group, but what's the harm in doing this in any barber shop?

Growing African American awareness

A blog devoted to African American-oriented issues, including health, posted an important item recently, with a title at home even here: Would you know if you were having a STROKE?

The article brings out some key points to ponder, quoting National Stroke Association statistics:

• Half all black women will die from stroke or heart disease.
• Blacks are twice as likely to die from stroke than whites.
• In the 45-54 age group, black males have a three times greater risk than white males of having an ischemic stroke.
  

The blog links to a public service announcement video and gives some vital stroke facts. Plus, the National Stroke Association has lots of additional links and educational material focusing on the African American population and preventing strokes.