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New research have suggested that blacks, after having a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain, have higher blood pressure and a greater risk of suffering a second stroke a year later. 

The study is published in the journal Stoke.

The study included 162 patients - 53 percent were male, and 77 were percent black. They were treated for their initial stroke at hospitals in the Washington, D.C. area. 

Researchers said 50 percent of the patients had high blood pressure a year after their stroke, even though most were taking medication to help lower their blood pressure. At 1 year, 63 percent of black patients had high blood pressure compared to 38 percent of whites.

Lead researchers Chelsea Kidwell said identifying how prevalent high blood pressure is this far out from a stroke can help tailor intervention programs that can truly make a difference. 

"Another risk factor for having a stroke is age and that obviously can't be changed, but we have numerous ways to help patients control their blood pressure which can be done with medication, diet and exercise," Kidwell said. "We know that reducing blood pressure can cut in half the risk of having a second stroke."

Donald Sisco is 60 years old and he is an African-American who participated in the study. 

He said he went on medication to control his high blood pressure immediately after his stroke four years ago. Since then, he has also followed a low-sodium diet.

"We got my blood pressure under control right away," Sisco said. "It makes my body feel so good. I don't want to [experience a stroke] again."

Still, many others still have high blood pressure, even when on medication.

"Our data don't reveal the reasons for these differences, though some possible factors to consider are diet, exercise and stress levels," explains Kidwell.

The researchers did identify two social factors that independently predicted lower blood pressure among individuals: those who were married or those who lived in a health care facility.

Sisco can understand the benefit of being married. He credits his wife, Deborah, for helping him stay true to his diet. 

"She only cooks what I can have," he said.