American Indian Women And Heart Disease

American Indian Women And Heart Disease

How Are We Different?

What Can I Do?

Questions To Ask My Doctor

How Are We Different?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American Indian/Alaska Native women. Heart disease has also become a major cause of disability and hospitalizations for American Indians/Alaska Natives.

Among American Indians/Alaska Natives age 18 and older, 61.4% of women have one or more CVD risk factors — hypertension, current cigarette smoking, high blood cholesterol or obesity.

American Indian/Alaska Native adults were 1.6 times as likely as White adults to be obese.
American Indian/Alaska Native adults were 1.3 times as likely as White adults to have high blood pressure
American Indian/Alaska Native adults are 1.4 times as likely as White adults to be current cigarette smokers.
Among American Indian or Alaska Natives only ages 18 and older, 55.5% of women report no physical activity.

What Can I Do?

Follow these guidelines from the American Heart Association:

Don't smoke. If you smoke, try to quit. Talk to your doctor about the many options available to help.
Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) and blood glucose (sugar).
Keep a healthy weight.
Get moving. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day, most days of the week. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Or, walk during breaks at work.
Eat heart-healthy foods. Eat whole-grain foods, vegetables, and fruit. Choose lean meats and low-fat cheese and dairy products. Limit foods that have lots of saturated fat, like butter, whole milk, baked goods, ice cream, fatty meats, and cheese.

Questions To Ask My Doctor

Talking to your doctor about any health concern is important. Let your doctor know you are working on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. First, learn what is considered normal.

Is my blood pressure normal for me? How often should it be checked?
What is my ideal weight?
What healthy nutrition suggestions can you make based on my dietary tastes and culture?
What can you tell me about my medications? (Tell your doctor about all the medications you use, including over-the-counter products such as herbal supplements and vitamins.)

Be honest about your concerns and get all your questions answered. Make sure you understand what the doctor tells you.

For more information about disparities facing American Indian women, visit healthpowerforminorities.com, a website with user-friendly health information about disease prevention, detection and control for people of color.