Some
introductory thoughts
When considering populations of individuals who are at special
risk for stroke and stroke death, there are numerous complicated and interrelated
factors to think about:
-
Culture-based (or population-determined) social or lifestyle factors
-
Extent of knowledge (and belief) that there are ways to decrease the risk
of having a stroke
-
Economic and other
factors governing access to preventive care and monitoring, as well as to
acute emergency care and longer-term rehabilitation
- Potential of following medical
management plans (economic and social issues, support, etc.)
-
Genetic factors or "pathology" especially prevalent in that population
While studies that are
now underway attempt to tease apart these variables so that they can be separately
identified and addressed, the results to date remain limited. Therefore
what we present here about several populations at special risk for stroke is
incomplete. However we hope that this information will encourage you to
think about some of these issues as you continue learning about stroke and stroke
prevention.
