By GREG FLYNN
Special to The Sun-Sentinel
JACKSON — Stroke kills about 1,500 Mississippians each year, and smokers are more at risk. The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is stressing the importance of taking meaningful steps to lower your risk and prolong your life.
If you smoke, are overweight or drink more than a moderate amount of alcohol, you are increasing your chance of having a stroke.
Black men and women are at a substantially higher risk of dying from stroke. If you are older, or have a family history of stroke, your risk is also higher.
“We know that tobacco use increases the risk of blood clots, which are the cause of stroke,” said Tiffany Johnson, director of the Office of Tobacco Control at MSDH.
Because the signs of a stroke appear only when the stroke is happening, being able to spot those signs — numbness, confusion, blurred vision, slurred speech, loss of balance, and headache — can save your life.
Staying active and smoke-free are two ways to dramatically reduce your risk of having a stroke. It’s also important to have your blood pressure checked regularly. MSDH offers free blood pressure screenings at all county health departments and fire stations. For a list of county health departments, visit www.healthyms.com/ locations.
“Strokes can be prevented,” said Cassandra Benson, director of the Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition (MTFC) of Quitman and Tallahatchie Counties. “Quitting smoking and staying tobacco-free is the first step. Our MTFC goal is to provide Mississippi with the education and resources needed to get and stay healthy.”
MSDH offers free live coaching for those who want to quit. Call the Mississippi Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. For more information on the dangers of tobacco products, visit www.quitlinems.com.
