Strokes are not uncommon today. Unhealthy living practices and lack of medical care (whether intentional or unintentional) contribute to the conditions that lead to strokes. However, it has been found in a recent study, published in April 2011, that people that live in close-knit neighborhoods have a higher survival rate in preventing and even when suffering a stroke. The findings of the study highlight the fact that people that associate with their neighbors in a positive manner, getting to know them, and doing different activities with them tend to follow healthier habits, and keep a close watch on their neighbors that do have health problems. If symptoms of a stroke are seen, the neighbors are there to help, getting the correct help faster. This increases the chance of survival and reduces any complication following a stroke, such as major paralysis or comatose conditions.
The study did find one unfortunate fact. Even in cohesive neighborhoods, African American people had a lower rate of survival of strokes. It was noted that this could be due to a lack of medical insurance, a reluctance to seek medical care, or possibly being in high-crime or unsecure areas making a neighbor feel unsafe in wandering out at night to check on another neighbor. The researchers stated the study was unclear on the exact reasons, but could only speculate.
However, in neighborhoods that were tested in Chicago, 5,789 seniors men and women were asked questions about their relationships with their neighbors. They were asked whether they talked to their neighbors in the streets, took care of each others’ children or grand children, how many were known by name, and whether they watched out for each other. These answers and questions formed the basis for a “cohesion score” in order to regulate the study. It was found that there was a 53% increase in stroke survival with the highest cohesion score in a neighborhood. The lower the score was, the higher the mortality rate from strokes was found. Stroke rates in the neighborhoods did not differ, but the cohesion scores did, with some people not even knowing the person living next door to them. Throughout the study, it was still not clear why African Americans did not benefit from the cohesion aspects of the neighborhoods. There were too many variables in the study to come to any concrete conclusions.
Getting out and saying hello to a neighbor may benefit you in a long run, improving your health habits, preventing other conditions such as depression and risk of heart disease, and providing exercise and companionship in the bargain. In addition, if things go wrong, whether it is symptoms of a stroke, heart attack, or a prowler on the loose, your neighbors can be life savers.
