Researchers examined death certificates over a 19-year period and found a 21 percent higher risk of death from stroke in people under age 20 in the stroke belt states had compared with the same age group in other states.
In some cases, there were no death certificates and so the obituaries in the papers were the only forms of proof that a person had died.
There are a number of online resources that can help you to locate the death records and death certificates.
Vital Chek allows you to search records nationwide for death certificates for a nominal fee.
The county clerk's office in most states house marriage licenses and birth and death certificates.