Untold Truth: Black men are far more likely to have a stroke, but medical care is harder to receive – firstcoastnews.com

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Strokes are common, but for African Americans the outcome of a stroke is more likely to be deadly. Greg and Lakesha Burton know the risks, firsthand. Greg has survived multiple strokes, but the most recent attack on his brain two years ago nearly ended his life. And now the couple is helping to reveal the Untold Truth about Black men and stroke.
In September of 2023, Greg Burton, the former Duval County Public Schools police chief, had a near fatal stroke. It affected the left side of his brain, the side in charge of language.
“A blood clot traveled and blocked off the artery,” Dr. Nima Amin Aghaebrahim, Baptist Health’s stroke medical director, who treated Greg, explained. “I saw him when he arrived, and he could not talk at all. He could not move his right arm, right leg, and his eyes were going to the left.”
“We went in through his arteries, and we literally were able to remove that blockage,” Dr. Aghaebrahim said. “Thankfully, he got to the hospital fast.”
He explains a stroke should be addressed immediately.
“We have an acronym called B.E. F.A.S.T.,” Aghaebrahim explains. “B is all of a sudden you cannot walk. E is for eyes. Suddenly you cannot see. F is facial droops. If you notice suddenly someone’s face is droopy that can be a sign of a stroke. A is for arm. If you see somebody’s arm is not moving on one side, I would be very concerned. S has to do with speech — if you cannot talk correctly. And then there’s T — Time, time is very important. Every second that passes about two million neurons die when there is a big blockage. So, when you have a stroke be fast and call 911.”

A national research study led by the University of Michigan and Brown University found that during a stroke Black Americans arrive later to emergency departments. And EMS workers were approximately 20% less likely to alert a receiving hospital ahead of a Black patient’s arrival, compared to a white patient.
“Black communities by itself delay getting to the hospital, there is delay in even getting to the ER compared to non-Black,” Aghaebrahim said. “So, I think education and awareness of stroke and risk factors and treatments are also very important.”
According to the American Stroke Association, there are several risk factors and societal challenges adding to the higher rate at which Black men are affected by stroke. Including the experience of racism, resulting in chronic discrimination, and excessive stress that impacts Black Americans and can lead to deteriorating health.
“When you’re hit with an illness, you become this researcher,” Lakesha Burton said.
She found out the odds were stacked against her husband. African American men have a 50% higher risk of stroke compared to other racial groups, due to a variety of factors, including higher rates of hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and sickle cell anemia.
“I did a lot of research, and I find those numbers to be true,” Burton said. “I’m just sad that my husband was a part of that statistic.”
Greg has overcome serious medical issues over the years, including four strokes, a seizure, heart surgery, and colon cancer. African Americans are also about 20% more likely to get colorectal cancer and nearly 4% more likely to die from it compared to most other groups.
“I think that sometimes we really don’t take things seriously until it really hits you,” Burton said. “Greg had always been healthy, disciplined, but now that this has happened- because we’re educated, he knows exactly what to eat, how to exercise, the rest you need, all of those things. And we live that now.”
The Burtons now encourage people to pay attention to their bodies and know their risk factors for stroke.
Almost 70% of Black men and over 80% of Black women are overweight or obese. African Americans are also more likely to have diabetes, these are risk factors for stroke. Dr. Aghaebrahim explains that up to 80% of strokes can be prevented. And he stresses with his patients the importance of exercise, eating well and getting regular checkups.