Native Americans are more likely to have heart disease compared to other groups in the United States. In fact, more than one in three Native Americans die from heart disease before they turn 65 years old. This is a much higher rate than the rest of the country.
In Forest County, Wisconsin, the heart disease death rate for Native Americans aged 35 and older is 464 out of every 100,000 people. This is much higher than the county’s overall rate of 344 out of every 100,000 people.
Dr. Anupama Joseph, a heart doctor at the University of Wisconsin, says that these higher rates are due to the long-term effects of trauma and hardship faced by Native Americans over many generations. Being forced to eat unhealthy foods provided by the government for a long time has led to more Native Americans being overweight, obese, and having diabetes.
To help lower the risk of heart disease, Dr. Joseph says it’s important for Native Americans to take steps to prevent it. This includes getting a health check-up every year, knowing your family’s health history, and living a healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet. She suggests following the 90%/10% or 80%/20% rule, which means eating mostly fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, while limiting junk food.
By spreading the word about the higher risk of heart disease among Native Americans and sharing easy ways to prevent it, Dr. Joseph and the University of Wisconsin hope to help improve heart health in this community. Understanding the causes of health differences and helping people make good choices about their lifestyle are important steps in reducing the gap in heart disease rates for Native Americans.
See “Heart diseases is found in higher rates among Native Americans” by Katie Thoresen on WXPR Public Radio (Rhinelander, Wisconsin (February 9, 2024)
