Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Dec. 26, 1991, edition 1 / Page 13
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under the sun THE BRUNSWICK&BEACON D THURSDAY. DECEMBER 26. 1991 Q Stanley Leads Volunteer Group With A New Year's Resolution II V TKKKY I'OIM. Malision "Mu" Stanley of Shallollc has an iniixir lant New Year's resolution. He wants 10 help save some lives in Brunswick Couniy. Stanley ami a group of about 20 volunteers will carry a message in llW2 from the Brunswick Couniy Health Department to people in all communities, covering neighborhoods Ironi I .eland to Calabash. It's a message the Health Department stall needed help to deliver of how North Carolina is third in the na tion in deaths attributed to hypertension, or high blood pressure, a disease that affects one out of every four Americans and one of every three blacks. As a member ol the Brunswick County Hoard of Health and a former public educator. Stanley is often viewed as a community leader. The lall. athletic and successful business man stepped forward ;is a volunteer when Nursing Supervisor Nancy Leggett asked for help with the Health Department's hypertension program. He quickly spread the word among other community leaders, forming a network of messengers. "1 hand picked people from a list." explains Stanley. "I didn't nec essarily ask them, I told them. Rut once we got together, it was ama/ing at the chemistry that existed and the support for the idea." It was also an eye-opening expe rience for the volunteers, who had their blocxl pressure checked at the meeting. Three men who didn't even know they were victims found out they hail high blood pressure, said Stanley. "Here we were talking about how we could reach these people." said Stanley, "and it was right here among us, in our own group. From that one meeting alone, we have helped make a difference in three peoples' lives." Minority males are dilTicult to target for screening, said Ms. Leggcll, for most people who have their bliHxl tested arc female. Also, economic hardships often keep blacks from seeing their doctors reg ularly. Males are often blue-collar workers, spending long hours on the job and away from church and civic groups that discuss health issues. The volunteers have met twice and will meet again Dec. 30. Their <>l tilings that we can work on," said Stanley. "li s my feeling, as well as the people in ihc group, that we have to do more things like tins," said Stanley. "I know that we're going to do thai. We're not going to let this die. Maybe tins is the starting point." Stanley doesn't have high blood pressure, which can be hereditary or brought on by poor eating habits, exccs sive intake of salt and a lack of exercise. The former col lege basketball star still stays in shape through pick up games and sometimes walks three to lour miles |vr day. "That's not to say that ! couldn't have it tomorrow," he adds. or above normal lor longer than a few clays. Men and women of any rate, aetive or inactive, strong or weak, tense or relaxed tan have hypertension. II let l untreated, it can lead to a heart attack, stroke or kidney problems. Medicine can help control high blixxl pressure, along with cutting back on tried Icxxls and salts, limiting alcoholic drinks, cutting back on smoking, eat ing less and exercising more. "It's a difficult task telling someone they will have to make a change in their normal behavior," said Stanley. "That's tough."' The progress made in just a few short months has cussed ways to built! belter rapport with I lie black min riuimties. The Brunswick County group lias met U> leani more about high blood pressure from area health expats, mi they can go hack into their communities ami spread the right information about the silent killer. The group will also act as a support group, lor al screenings a jvrsou may be told ihey have hypertension, but it's no guarantee tlie patient v. ill seek treatment. "In public health we will see that person, but you never know if they actually go to a doctor or not." said Vis. I.eggett. "This group wants to he able to reinforce mat message, maybe make some lifestyle changes and encourage a better diet and exercise. That may help prevent a stroke in the future." No one really knows why blacks have a higher incidence ol high blixxl pressure than whites. Overall, not as many males go to the doctor, and different attempts have been un successful to reach die high-risk black males, said Ms. l.eggett. "We do blood pressure screen ings and give programs for high bkxxl pressure," she said, "but this has been a group of people we have not been able to reach. We w ere kind of determined to find some way to get to this group." North Carolina is among a group of states known as "the Stroke Belt by the National Heart. Lung and Blood Institute. The leading cause of male deaths in North Carolina, ac cording to 19XX dam. are heart dis ease, cancer and cerebrovascular dis ease, which includes strokes brought on by high blo(xi pressure. In Brunswick County, while males die from heart disease and cancer at a higher rate than non white males. But the story is differ ent for cerebrovascular disease, which kills 59.2 of every 100.000 blacks and 36.6 of every 100,000 whiles, according to die Health Department. "It's important because it's af fecting people's lives." said Stanley. "When we talk about it being a killer of minority people, that's not to say that it's not affecting non-minori ties." If someone checks your blood and ihe lop number is or higher STAFF PHOTO BY TERRY POP* MAUSTOX STAiXI.KY and Nancy Leggett hope to come face-to-face in l'J92 with limn snick County residents who have high Mood pressure. Their goal is to get patients the proper treatment that can help save their lives. firsi goal is to coordiiuik' a count) wide scieening in February, during Black History Month. The group ol vol unteers continues u> grow as word spreads. Stanley h<>|vs it can lead to cooperation among various leaders, linking blacks together to discuss and to help solve other prob lems affecting their communities counlywide. "1 never realized it would snowball as it has," he added. "They want to keep it alive. They want to talk about other things. And that's okay." When the volunteers met last, their conversations turned to drug abuse, poverty, crime and "a wide gamut I "ho department wants to reach the younger black population with its hypertension screening, or persons under 65. The program isn't just limited to blacks, noted Stanley. "The program is concerned about all people," said Stanley, "it's just that we've found the risk and incident of death to be much greater among blacks." Persons can have high blixxl pressure and I'eel nor mal. with no pain and no visible signs. Blocxl pressure is the force or pressure that moves the bltxxl through your Ixxly. Hypertension is when the bkxxl pressure stays high surprised Ms. Lcggetl. "I'm real impressed," she said. "They're reallv iistcr esied in doing something for iheir community. We're real fortunate to have someone like Mo Stanley on ihe Health Hoard." The Health Department operates three adult health outreach programs funded by the state, one of which is lor a hypertension program. At a suite workshop earlier this year, Ms. Leggett and other health care workers were discouraged and felt the hypertension screenings were not reaching the targeted, high-risk males. They dis 4 ii 111 uic iHHiom nuintxr in W or higtur. then von have high blotxl pressure. Stanley said working with the group has hel|vd (inn return something to a community that has helped in his family's success. "It's always been our goal, our desire, to give some thing hack to the community." said Stanley, "not just to young blacks hut to all persons." In 1992, he and his group of volunteers may he giv ing Brunswick County residents the most important gift of all ? a chance to live a longer and healthier life. Auto Accidents Disability Job Injuries ARE YOU A HARD WORKER NOW INJURED OR DISABLED? CALL: 1 -800-336-0 1 55 Kathleen Shannon Glancy Attorney tit Law 114 S. Front St., Wilmington, NC LET ME WORK HARI) FOR YOU TO OBTAIN FAIR AND REASONABLE COMPENSATION FOR YOUR INJURIES A metal CATC1 1 FOLDING TABLES 30x60 .......$49.95 HEAVY DUTY 30x72 .......$59.95 FOLDINGCHAIRS 30x96 $69.95 $10?50 OFFICE FURNITURE SALVAGE l Z705 MARKET ST. ? WILMINGTON ? (919)763-1515 This ad worth 35% discount on next year's total lawn care. Limited lime only. Commercial ? Residential Mowing ? Trimming ? Aerating Senior Citizens Discount No job too big or small! Call 704-782-8452 collect or write P.O. Box 221, Supply, NC 28462 fe Upon Us Th e years are passing faster than we can count! Let us slow down and enjoy the lift; we have been given. Best wishes for a prosperous 1992. Many thanks for your patronage and friendship during the last year J.M. Parker and Sons Junction of Hwy. 17 & 211, Supply, 754-4331 /4332 Take A Look Inside One Of Today's Most Effective Medical Treatment Centers Ill home health, you find toda\'s best opportunity to use your skills and experience to make a significant difference in your patients' lives. A career in home health with Comprehensive Home Health Care can offer you greater independence, greater flexibility, an escape from shift work, and more freedom in your personal life. 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The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 26, 1991, edition 1
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