Expert’s View Safeguarding Native American Women’s Heart Health in Pregnancy
American Indian/Alaska Native Women Face Heart Health Risks During Pregnancy Dr. Jason Deen Discusses Effective Measures
😍📚 Enhancing Cardiovascular Health for American Indian/Alaska Native Women
Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults in the United States? And for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AIN) women, the risk is particularly high during pregnancy and can even span generations. But don’t fret, because the American Heart Association (AHA) has recently released its first set of scientific guidelines specifically for cardiovascular health in AI/AN women of childbearing age. These guidelines focus on addressing well-known risk factors like high blood pressure, LDL cholesterol levels, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and smoking. But they also go above and beyond by including trauma and mistrust that have been passed down for centuries.
Dr. Jason Deen, a UW Medicine pediatric cardiologist and expert who contributed to the guidelines, has a personal connection to the cause. As a descendent of the Blackfeet tribe, he witnessed health disparities at a young age and developed an interest in Native health. During his medical training, he noticed that young Native children were already exhibiting adult heart risk factors such as obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Additionally, AI/AN adults experienced cardiovascular emergencies earlier than other racial groups. This connection between cardiac disease in young individuals and premature disease in adulthood sparked Dr. Deen’s determination to address this issue.
Now, let’s dive deeper into the guidelines and explore the social drivers of health that impact AI/AN communities. According to the AHA’s report, 60% of AI/AN women already have “suboptimal” heart health when they become pregnant. Risk factors like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and smoking are all too common. Access to good nutrition is often limited, and there is a concerning amount of interracial violence against AI/AN women. On top of these factors, toxic stress and trauma experienced by AI/AN individuals throughout their lives contribute to mental and physical health problems.
Dr. Deen emphasizes that the disparities in health stem from systemic racism. This racism affects various social determinants of health, including economic stability, access to healthcare and education, upbringing environment, and social and community context. Historical trauma also plays a significant role, with Native communities experiencing forced assimilation and colonization. Drastic changes in diet due to relocation to reservations have resulted in poor nutrition, contributing to obesity rates among Native populations. Furthermore, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) passed down through generations can impact heart health. For instance, Native grandmothers who were subjected to abuse in U.S. government-funded boarding schools may unknowingly expose their descendants to ACEs that increase the risk of heart disease and other health conditions.
To address these challenges, Deen proposes a shift in healthcare and research approaches. Rather than focusing solely on disease intervention, a decolonized model of healthcare takes a public health approach, focusing on what is healthy for specific communities to prevent disease. This model respects and acknowledges that healthcare existed before colonization and aims to restore that understanding. In terms of research, building relationships and becoming part of the community are crucial first steps. Researchers need to approach Native communities without personal agendas, seeking to understand their unmet needs and knowledge gaps. Native women, who are often the healthcare stewards of their families, play a vital role in decision-making within these communities.
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Additionally, there is a need for more Native doctors, allied health professionals, and researchers. Having representatives from Native communities in healthcare and research not only improves accessibility but also creates interventions that are sustainable and community-focused. By addressing the larger systemic issues and creating healthier ecosystems within these communities, individual health outcomes can be positively impacted. Native women have long understood the importance of these changes and there is a collective yearning to break the cycle.
So, let’s work together to support the cardiovascular health of American Indian/Alaska Native women. By following the AHA’s guidelines and tackling the social drivers of health, we can make a real difference. Share this article with others to spread awareness and join the movement towards healthier futures for all.
🙋♀️❓ Q&A for Readers
Q: What are the specific guidelines recommended by the American Heart Association for American Indian/Alaska Native women of childbearing age?
A: The AHA’s guidelines, known as “Life’s Essential 8,” include the following targets: 1. Eat better. 2. Be more active. 3. Quit tobacco. 4. Get healthy sleep. 5. Manage weight. 6. Control cholesterol. 7. Manage blood sugar. 8. Manage blood pressure.
These guidelines focus on modifiable risk factors that are essential for cardiovascular disease prevention for people of all backgrounds.
Q: How do social drivers of health impact American Indian/Alaska Native communities?
A: Social drivers of health, including systemic racism, economic stability, access to healthcare and education, upbringing environment, and social and community context, have a significant impact on the health of American Indian/Alaska Native communities. Limited access to good nutrition, high rates of interracial violence against AI/AN women, and the lingering effects of trauma and toxic stress further contribute to health disparities.
Q: How does historical trauma affect the health of Native individuals?
A: Historical trauma, such as forced assimilation in boarding schools, has lasting effects on the health of Native individuals. The loss of traditional foods due to relocation to reservations and dependency on poor-quality nutrition provided by colonizers can result in obesity and other health conditions. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) passed down through generations can also increase the risk of heart disease and other health problems.
Q: How can the healthcare approach be transformed to better meet the needs of Native communities?
A: A decolonized model of healthcare focuses on a public health approach rather than disease intervention. It involves understanding what is healthy for specific communities and working to prevent disease based on that understanding. Building relationships and becoming part of the community are important steps in conducting research in Native communities, prioritizing their unmet needs and knowledge gaps. Native women, who often play key roles in healthcare decision-making, should be involved in these processes.
Q: What can individuals do to support the cardiovascular health of American Indian/Alaska Native women?
A: Individuals can start by following the AHA’s guidelines for cardiovascular health and spreading awareness about the unique challenges faced by American Indian/Alaska Native communities. Supporting initiatives that promote representation of Native individuals in healthcare and research is also crucial to creating sustainable and community-focused interventions. By addressing the underlying systemic issues and working towards healthier ecosystems, we can make a real difference in improving the cardiovascular health of American Indian/Alaska Native women.
🔗📚 References:
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