American Indians/Alaska Natives

Get more information on American Indian/Alaska Native Health: Alcoholism Cervical Cancer Diabetes Gallstones Heart Disease HIV/AIDS Infant Deaths Injuries Mental Health Overweight and Obesity Other Cancers Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Smoking Stroke Suicide Tuberculosis (TB) Violence

Minority Women's Health > American Indians/Alaska Natives

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American Indians/Alaska Natives. Other leading causes of death include cancer, injuries, diabetes, and stroke.

Diabetes is a serious health problem for American Indians/Alaska Natives in the U.S. They are 2.2 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites.  Rates for risk factors for diabetes including smoking and being overweight and obese are high for American Indian/Alaska Natives.

Accidental injuries are the leading cause of death for American Indian/Alaska Natives ages 1– 44. Most of these deaths are caused by traffic accidents and poisoning.

Related Information:

• American Indian/Alaska Native Health Topics
• Tools to Help You Build a Healthier Life
• Getting Health Care and Talking to Your Doctor
• Illness and Disabilities
• Women's Health Statistics
• Indian Health Service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, CDC
• For Health Care Professionals: Cultural Competency

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Current as of December 2007