Cardiovascular disease remains one of the most common medical problems in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.
In fact, the incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular disease is much higher among both indigenous men and women compared to the non-indigenous people in Australia.
Some of the main cardiovascular problems include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease and hypertension.
Here are five reasons why these conditions are more common in the Australia Indigenous people.
Obesity Approximately 60% of indigenous adults are overweight.
The remaining ones are either obese or morbidly obese.
Males were more likely to be overweight than women.
In a recent report, it was discovered that obesity rates were higher among those who are aged 45 years and above.
Obesity contributes to a wide variety of diseases which not only includes cardiovascular disease but also Type 2 Diabetes.
It is also well-known that being overweight contributes to high blood pressure and also high cholesterol.
Alcohol Consumption Alcohol consumption at harmful levels are known to cause hypertension, high triglyceride levels and contribute to cardiovascular problems.
It was also found that alcohol consumption was much higher in indigenous males and females.
Physical Inactivity Another important risk factor is the low level of physical activity.
It is well-known that physically inactive individuals are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Staying active and kicking away the sedentary lifestyle helps in reducing the risk of getting coronary artery disease, stroke, hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes.
A recent study showed that 58% of indigenous people who had cardiovascular disease were physically inactive.
it was also found that physical inactivity increases with age in their population and so does the number of cardiovascular disease.
Cigarette Smoking There are significantly more Indigenous people smoking at a younger age compared to non indigenous people.
A recent study found that 51% of Indigenous people aged 18 years or older were current smokers, compared with 24% of non-Indigenous people.
The proportion of smokers increases for those who live in remote areas.
Smoking contributes to atherosclerosis which is essentially cholesterol plague formation that can cause a heart attack.
It also contributes to clotting and irregular heart beats.
Tobacco smoking also damages blood vessels and the heart.
Nutrition Another important contribution to poor health in the Indigenous people is poor nutrition.
Their diet consists of a diet mainly high in saturated fatty acids and salt which increases the risk of hypertension, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease and obesity.
It was also found that dietary fibre intake was less in both males and females in the indigenous population.
For those not in the know, dietary fibre helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Regular consumption also reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.
Cardiovascular health continues to remain a significant health burden to the Indigenous population in Australia.
A lot has been done over the years to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates from heart attacks and strokes in this population.
Some ways that have been used are through patient education and better medical care for them.