Oneida Stroke Prevention Program

The Stroke Prevention Team with their partners from the Oneida Community
Researchers setting stuff up before a health fair
Health metrics being recorded at a health fair
Volunteers talking before a health fair starts

The Oneida Comprehensive Health Division and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have initiated a partnership to decrease stroke and stroke risk factors in the Oneida Nation through an Educational and Clinical Research Program.

Stroke Awareness Team:  A Partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Neurosurgery and the Oneida Comprehensive Health Division

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Neurosurgery and the Oneida Comprehensive Health Division have created a partnership to provide information to the Oneida community about the signs and symptoms of stroke.  One of the key factors for preventing stroke is for individuals to understand the risk factors for stroke and how to modify their risk factors to decrease their risk for stroke.  This is important in the Native American community, as Native Americans are considered to be at higher risk for stroke.

Native Americans Are at Higher Risk for Stroke

Native populations across the country experience some of the highest disparities in health and socioeconomic factors compared to other US populations, with stroke and premature dementia as two of the greatest causes of death and disability.1,2

  • Native Americans have a 14% higher mortality rate from strokes compared to the US Population.1
  • Wisconsin Native populations experience some of the highest mortality rates from strokes compared with other states.1
  • Individuals at high risk for stroke are also at high risk for dementia

According to the American Heart Association in this article, Stroke Risk Factors are on the rise in Native Americans. 

 

Understanding Risk Factors for Stroke

Stroke is the number 5 cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of disability in the United States.3-5

The American Stroke Association is solely focused on reducing disability and death from stroke. We have many links to their educational material throughout this website. Risk factors for stroke are listed to the right and you can click on each risk factor to learn more about how to manage each risk factor from the American Stroke Association.

Many of these risk factors are modifiable (meaning they can be changed) by changes in lifestyle and therefore reduce an individual’s risk for stroke.3-5  For information about modifiable risk factors from the American Stroke Association click here.

To learn more about your risk for stroke, click here to take the Stroke Risk Quiz from the American Stroke Association, 6   land/or click on the tab above entitled  “Assessing my stroke risk.”   Completing this activity will provide you with information that you can take with you to discuss your stroke risk factors with your primary care provider.

In addition to knowing information about your stroke risk factors, it is also important to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke.

 

Risk Factors

It is very important to recognize a stroke early to have the best chance of survival and recovery.

LEARN the BE FAST mnemonic, it can save a life. It is a quick way to recognize signs someone is having a stroke.

Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to a stroke. According the the American Stroke Association, 1 in 4 stroke and heart attack survivors have another.

If you would like to learn more about UW Health’s Comprehensive Stroke Program or would like to find a UW Health doctor, click here to visit their website.

Also, the Stroke Awareness Team in partnership with the Oneida Comprehensive Health Division is conducting a research study with the purpose of identifying what risk factors put Native Americans at higher risk for stroke and to find out what activities work best to lower those risks. Please see more study info for more details about this study.

UW Health adopted graphic of the BE FAST mnemonic. B= Balance loss, E= Eyes and vision changes, F= Face drooping, A= Arm weakness or numbness, S= speech slurred or trouble speaking, T= terrible headache. These are signs of a stroke. Stroke strikes suddenly, don't stall call 911

Citations
  1. Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. Burden of Cardiovascular Disease among American Indians and Alaska Natives in Wisconsin. Lac du Flambeau, WI: Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center, Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc.; 2015.
  2. Yuan H, White C, and Petillo F. The Burden of Heart Disease and Stroke in Wisconsin 2010. Wisconsin Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. P-00146 (02/10).
  3. Benjamin EJ, Virani SS, Callaway CW, Chamberlain AM, Chang AR, Cheng S, Chiuve SE, Cushman M, Delling FN, Deo R, de Ferranti SD, Ferguson JF, Fornage M, Gillespie C, Isasi CR, Jimenez MC, Jordan LC, Judd SE, Lackland D, Lichtman JH, Lisabeth L, Liu S, Longenecker CT, Lutsey PL, Mackey JS, Matchar DB, Matsushita K, Mussolino ME, Nasir K, O’Flaherty M, Palaniappan LP, Pandey A, Pandey DK, Reeves MJ, Ritchey MD, Rodriguez CJ, Roth GA, Rosamond WD, Sampson UKA, Satou GM, Shah SH, Spartano NL, Tirschwell DL, Tsao CW, Voeks JH, Willey JZ, Wilkins JT, Wu JH, Alger HM, Wong SS, Muntner P, American Heart Association Council on E, Prevention Statistics C and Stroke Statistics S. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2018 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2018;137:e67-e492.
  4. Benjamin EJ, Virani SS, Callaway CW, Chamberlain AM, Chang AR, Cheng S, Chiuve SE, Cushman M, Delling FN, Deo R, de Ferranti SD, Ferguson JF, Fornage M, Gillespie C, Isasi CR, Jimenez MC, Jordan LC, Judd SE, Lackland D, Lichtman JH, Lisabeth L, Liu S, Longenecker CT, Lutsey PL, Mackey JS, Matchar DB, Matsushita K, Mussolino ME, Nasir K, O’Flaherty M, Palaniappan LP, Pandey A, Pandey DK, Reeves MJ, Ritchey MD, Rodriguez CJ, Roth GA, Rosamond WD, Sampson UKA, Satou GM, Shah SH, Spartano NL, Tirschwell DL, Tsao CW, Voeks JH, Willey JZ, Wilkins JT, Wu JH, Alger HM, Wong SS and Muntner P. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2018 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2018;137:e67-e492.
  5. American Stroke Association. About Stroke. August 3, 2020.
  6. American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. Stroke Risk Quiz. 2020.