Wellness Wednesday – Stroke awareness walk set for May 22

Unfortunately, it bears repeating.

Heart disease and stroke are two of the top causes of death in the U.S. and right here in Omaha.

Blacks are at a particularly high risk of both diseases. That is why the American Heart Association is organizing the first “Power to End Stroke” walk in north Omaha. UNMC’s hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, is one of the walk’s sponsors.

Stroke facts According to the American Stroke Association: Each year approximately 795,000 people suffer a stroke — 610,000 are first attacks and 185,000 are recurrent; Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States suffers from a stroke; Stroke accounts for one out of every 18 deaths in the United States; and The number of acute ischemic stroke patients eligible for treatment is expected to grow over the next decade due to increasing stroke incidence and a large aging population.

It is part of a national campaign to create stroke awareness in the black community.

“We know health outcomes are different for members of various racial, ethnic, urban and rural populations,” said Wayne Houston, UNMC community outreach specialist in the College of Public Health’s Center for Reducing Health Disparities. “Our goal is to raise awareness not only about these two diseases but also provide educational information to empower people to become aware of their risks and take steps to live healthier lifestyles.”

The walk is May 22 at 9 a.m. It will begin at Fontenelle Pavilion. Registration is $6.

To participate or to organize a walking team, contact Houston at 595-1365 or whouston@unmc.edu.