Gospel Stars Yolanda Adams And J Moss Help Raise Stroke Awareness

When you want people to listen, give them something they want to hear.  That's why Grammy Award winners Yolanda Adams and J Moss have teamed up with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.  They are sharing a very important message:  Stroke is a major health concern in the African-American community, but it's 80 percent preventable.

Adams and Moss are featured in the American Heart Association's Most Powerful Voices Concert and Health Expo on Friday, September 11 at Second Ebenezer Church, located at 14601 Dequindre Rd. in Detroit. The free event begins at 6 p.m. with a health expo followed by the concert at 8:30 pm.

In addition to a musical showcase by Grammy-Award winning artist Yolanda Adams and singer/songwriter J. Moss, highlights include free health screenings, juicing and fitness demos, health information and give-a-ways. A VIP reception begins at 6:30 pm and features dinner, speakers and a special appearance by Yolanda Adams.

According to the American Heart Association, stroke is the number one preventable cause of long-term disability. For most people, controlling high blood pressure is the number one way to prevent stroke.  Most Powerful Voices, an informative and inspirational praise fest, is designed to educate African-Americans about stroke and arm the community with resources that will help them achieve ideal health.

Kristian Hurley, multicultural director for the southeast Michigan American Heart Association, said stroke is a major health concern in the African-American community. "Since African Americans experience a stroke twice as often as Caucasians, our goal is to ensure that attendees take this life-saving knowledge back to their homes and communities lowering individual risk for stroke," said Hurley.

Dr. Earlexia Norwood, MD, director of Community Health for Henry Ford Health System, said stroke is high in the African-American community for multiple reasons including hypertension, obesity and smoking.  "Many African Americans are smokers and maintain a diet high in salt as a result of eating fast food and processed foods.  Addressing these concerns can help lower your risk for stroke," said Norwood.

"Most Powerful Voices is more than a concert. It is a call to action. We intend to educate the community regarding stroke and contribute to our mission of building a culture of heath in Detroit," said Hurley.

CW50 Detroit decided to partner with the American Heart Association to help spread awareness about stroke.  Hurley and Norwood were featured on a recent episode of CW50's community affairs show, Street Beat, discussing stroke and the upcoming concert.  You can watch it Saturday, Sept 5, 2015 at 8:30am.

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association recommends the community remember the acronym F.A.S.T to help them identify the warning signs of a stroke.
F - Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
A - Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S - Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like, "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?
T - Time to call 9-1-1: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.
For more information about the Most Powerful Voices Concert and Health Expo or to obtain free tickets visit heart.org/semi. Early arrival is strongly suggested.

For more information about stroke, visit www.powertoendstroke.org.