Strokes and Black Women: How to Stay Safe

By Lindiwe Vilakazi | The Washington Informer | Word In Black (WIB) – Giving birth at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, medical professionals treated Erin Adelekun’s lingering headaches with painkillers, deeming discomfort a side effect, and eventually discharging her just two days after her delivery.  It was just nine days later when she woke up to what she described as the, “worst headache imaginable,” and quickly learned she was having a massive stroke. Assuming the cluster of headaches were caused by a lack of sleep from feeding her daughter throughout the night, she decided not to call her doctor about the consistent head pain.& However, the morning her migraine greatly intensified, her broken sense of communication gave way to a serious issue taking place. “My husband told me he would cook me breakfast and let me get some rest.& He called me to notify me that breakfast was ready, and I thought I was saying I’ll be down in a minute, but I couldn’t talk and was [actually slurring my words],”& Adelekun told The Informer.& I ran downstairs and I couldn’t communicate with him, and then suddenly, my arm gave way and I knew that I was having a...