The Southern United States, particularly the region known as the “Stroke Belt,” has been facing an abnormally high risk of suffering fatal strokes. Near-coastal areas of North and South Carolina and Georgia have a stroke risk at least 10 per cent higher than people in other U.S. states. The region includes 153 counties, and some very popular tourist spots: Myrtle Beach, Savannah and Charleston. This phenomenon has been a subject of concern for several years, with research indicating various contributing factors. The region has been associated with higher stroke mortality rates, particularly in states like Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, and South Carolina[8]. Several studies have highlighted the prevalence of risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, poor cholesterol levels, obesity, and physical inactivity, which are disproportionately concentrated in the Southern states[3]. Additionally, the region’s rural areas have been found to experience higher rates of morbidity and mortality compared to urban areas, with people of color facing higher rates of death and disease[7]. The impact of climate change, including extreme heat events, has also been identified as a potential risk factor for the region[1][9]. These findings collectively point to a complex interplay of social, environmental, and health-related factors contributing to the elevated risk of fatal strokes in the Southern United States.
Citations:
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/southwest.htm
[2] https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/STROKEAHA.119.024155
[3] https://www.uab.edu/news/research/item/12011-cardiovascular-health-is-poorest-among-american-adults-in-the-southern-u-s
[4] https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STROKEAHA.117.017089
[5] https://www.southcarolinapublicradio.org/2023-12-15/the-u-s-is-unprepared-for-the-growing-threat-of-mosquito-and-tick-borne-viruses
[6] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sgstroke-usa-idUSN1734249520070517/
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7755690/
[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke_Belt
[9] https://toolkit.climate.gov/regions/southern-great-plains