The Links community organization champions community health

A major focus of the Winston-Salem Chapter of the Links, Inc, which is led by LaJoi Wilson-Moore, is providing healthy living education and events, especially for underserved communities. The Links’ Health and Human Services (HHS) Facet sponsors an annual Walk for Healthy Living, provides health education materials, sponsors health seminars and panel discussions and supports the efforts of numerous health organizations. According to Links HHS Facet Chair, Emma White, “An exciting example of our work is the “Share the Link” campaign on which the organization is working with SMSi Healthy Living Solutions, Inc. to support the American Heart Association‘s stroke awareness and prevention program, FAST.

“FAST aims to raise awareness of the signs of stroke and encourages people to get help quickly when these signs appear. The letters stand for F-face drooping, A-arm weakness, S-speech difficulty, T-time to call 911. The Links are encouraging their members, friends, and associates to digitally share information on this effort. Other Link HHS Facet members include Alison Ashe-Card, Dr. Pamela Dockery-Howard, Sharon JeffriesJones, Sandra Miller Jones, Dr. Pamela Oliver, Prennessia Salder-Lambert, Dr. Linda Taylor and Shanita Wooten.

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, with membership of 17,000 professional women of African descent in 299 chapters. Link members contribute more than 1 million hours of community service annually to help enhance the welfare of their communities. In addition to Health and Human Services, other Links facets include Services to Youth, The Arts, National Trends and Services and International Trends and Services.

• Prescription drugs

• Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices (services and devices to help people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions gain or recover mental and physical skills)

• Laboratory services

• Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management

• Pediatric services, including oral and vision care (but adult dental and vision coverage aren’t essential health benefits)

• Additional benefits

Plans must also include the following benefits:

• Birth control coverage

• Breastfeeding coverage

• Essential health benefits are minimum requirements for all Marketplace plans. Specific services covered in each broad benefit category can vary based on your state’s requirements. Plans may offer additional benefits, including:

• Dental coverage

• Vision coverage

• Medical management programs (for specific needs like weight management, back pain, and diabetes)

Stroke Can Happen At Any Age

Leslie Jordan, a mom and former attorney from Charlotte, NC is one of 12 women nationwide selected to be the face of heart disease and stroke for the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women® 2023 Real Women Class of Survivors. The Association's Go Red for Women movement selects every day, “real” women to serve as cause ambassadors and represent a diverse sisterhood of survivors. Often the surprising faces of cardiovascular disease, the Go Red for Women 2023 Real Women Class of Survivors come from all walks of life and share uniquely inspiring stories.

In 2018, two days after giving birth, the 33-year-old new mom suffered several major strokes, very abrasive seizures followed by two or three small strokes and experienced many seizures later. Her strokes may have been a result of complications from preeclampsia, or gestational high blood pressure, that developed in her third trimester. The first sign of trouble was a creeping, painful headache. She remembers waking up in the ICU and discovering only part of her body could move, and the part that moved was severely weakened. She mustered all the strength she could to say “I’m having a stroke!” to her medical team and immediately blacked out. Her memories of her son ’ s first days are few, and she had to learn to walk and talk again, all while taking care of a newborn. Five years later Leslie is still recovering, but her positive outlook and attitude are infectious.

Her advice to other women who may get diagnosed with preeclampsia is to take it seriously. She recognizes that Black women have the highest maternal mortality rate and doesn’t want stroke or death to happen to anyone. In her words, "God gave me a second chance. I’m doing the best I can with it.”

Learn how to spot a stroke

How does stroke impact Black Americans?

Black Americans have a higher prevalence of stroke and highest death rate from stroke than any other racial group. Those who have diabetes and have an ischemic stroke, which is caused by a clot, are more likely to be black. Also, Black stroke survivors are more likely to be disabled and struggle with doing daily activities.

Why are Black individuals at higher risk for stroke?

Not all of the reasons are clear why African Americans have an increased risk of stroke. But over two-thirds of Black Americans have at least one risk factor for stroke:

High blood pressure

Over half of Black adults have high blood pressure. It develops earlier in Black Americans and is often more severe.

Overweight and obesity

Almost 70% of Black men and over 80% of Black women are overweight or obese.

Diabetes

African Americans are more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic white individuals.

High cholesterol

Nearly 30% of Black Americans have high levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol.

Sickle cell anemia

This common genetic disorder in AfricanAmericans is a risk factor for stroke.

Smoking

Over 15% of Black adults smoke, doubling their risk of stroke.

Eating too much salt (sodium)

Research shows that African Americans may have a gene that greatly increases sensitivity to salt and its effects.

Stress

African American adults face daily stressors that may increase risk for stroke.