Lumbee Tribe members at greater risk for cardiac dangers

By Lauren Allen
Around The Town Editor

Researchers have reported that members of the Lumbee Native American Tribe of North Carolina are at a higher risk of facing cardiac dangers than Americans in general. 

With an estimated 50,000 Lumbees in North America, 38 percent reside in Robeson County and according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1,961 of those Lumbees live in Pembroke. 

According to a team from Duke University in Durham, N.C., 920 Lumbees that were hospitalized for heart treatment had significantly higher rates of cardiovascular risk factors. 

These factors include diabetes, high blood pressure and prior history of coronary heart disease.

Also, according to the same team at Duke University, Lumbees are also more likely than other races to receive angioplasty during their hospitalization.        

These same Lumbee patients also tend to be younger in age and are more likely to be female.

The Duke study also found that nine years after their initial hospitalization, Lumbee patients had similar death rates as other patients, but were more likely to have suffered from at least one non-fatal heart attack over those nine years.

According to general studies, it is advised that in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid the risk of getting high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, one must stick to a low-fat diet and exercise on a regular basis.