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FEBRUARY 21, 2001

Coronary heart disease is still the number one killer of Americans in the United States, according to statistics compiled last Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But even though American Indians and Alaska Natives have significantly lower rates of heart disease compared to other Americans, a leading health researcher believes the problem could explode in the future. Dr. Clifton Poodry, a Seneca doctor with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is warning that the factors which have contributed to the diabetes epidemic could lead to increased risk to cardiovascular diseases.

"We may see cardiovascular disease a major killer in Indian Country 10 to 15 years from now in part because of diet, weight, and exercise," said Poodry.

With diabetes showing up in Native Americans at younger and younger ages, the issue is indeed serious. An entire generation of Native people could be affected by the time they reach the age of 35 unless significant lifestyle changes are made.

Poor diet, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle in fact do contribute to higher rates of heart disease, according to the CDC. Smoking, high blood pressure, and consumption of foods high in fat and calories all contribute to the risk, say researchers.

Men over the age of 35 die are particularly at risk. In 1998, their mortality rate from coronary heart disease was 222.4 deaths per 100,000. For women, it was 135.8 deaths per 100,000.

Among men and women of all ethnic and racial groups, American Indians and Alaska Natives had the lowest heart disease death rate. The death rate for Native men in 1998 was 246.7 per 100,000 and for women it was 160.2 per 100,000.

Among men, Whites, had the highest rate at 440.0 deaths per 100,000. Among women, African-Americans had the highest rate at 301.9 deaths per 100,000.

According to the CDC, the keys to preventing death from heart disease include controlling high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, eating foods low in fat, and moderate exercise. The CDC estimates 58 million Americans live with some form of cardiovascular disease.

Get the Heart Disease Statistics:
Mortality From Coronary Heart Disease and Acute Myocardial Infarction --- United States, 1998 (CDC MMWR February 16, 2001 / 50(06);90-3)

Relevant Links:
Cardiovascular Disease, the Centers for Diesase Control - www.cdc.gov/health/cardiov.htm