Intergenerational trauma, violence leads to cardiovascular disease in Native women (nhonews.com)

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Intergenerational trauma and violence has led to increased cardiovascular disease in American/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) women in childbearing years, according to a scientific statement published by The American Heart Association (AHA) this week.

The scientific statement highlights pregnancy risk factors related to cardiovascular health for Native women, Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, by a peer-reviewed AHA journal.

Per the statement, AI/AN women giving birth between the ages 35-40 are five times as likely to die than white women. As well, AI/AN women also experience significantly high rates of other pregnancy complications such as infection, postpartum hemorrhage or gestational diabetes — all complications that are associated with increased cardiovascular risk.

Garima Sharma, M.D., FAHA chair of the writing committee for the scientific statement, said common risk factors for cardiac disease are aggravated in AI/AN individuals by chronic stress, intergenerational trauma, violence, adverse childhood experiences, and food insecurity.