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Published: November 5, 2009
Q. I have heard North Carolina referred to as part of the "Stroke Belt." What is the Stroke Belt? How did North Carolina become part of it? -- S.S.
A. "Stroke Belt" refers to an eight- to 12-state region in the Southeast, including North Carolina, where historically more people have died of stroke than in other areas of the country, according to Sara Huston, an epidemiologist with the N.C. Division of Public Health.
Stroke is a leading cause of death in North Carolina and is also a major cause of long-term disability.
In 2005, the state had the sixth highest stroke-death rate in the nation, according to a "Stroke in North Carolina" fact sheet.
Because the highest stroke-death rates have occurred in the coastal plains of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia for at least 30 years, that area is called the "Buckle of the Stroke Belt," a term coined by stroke epidemiologist George Howard, a native of North Carolina and a former professor at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
Stroke-death rates in North Carolina have gone down since 2000, but as of 2005, the state's figure was still 23 percent higher than the U.S. rate.
Even with continuing research, it is unclear why so many people here die of stroke.
While 87 percent of adults in North Carolina said they would call 911 if they thought someone was having a stroke, only 19 percent actually knew all of the symptoms of a stroke.
Look for information to help you recognize the symptoms of a stroke and minimize your risk factors for stroke in Friday's "Ask SAM" column.
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