Compared to other races, American Indians experience a heavier burden of risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure (hypertension), Type 2 diabetes, and smoking. Medications are often prescribed to lower blood pressure. However, adopting low-salt, heart-healthy diets- collectively known as DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)-has been shown to lower blood pressure with or without medication. In addition, these evidence-based dietary approaches can be more cost-effective and sustainable than daily medication.
The goal of this project is to determine whether the intervention will improve blood pressure control in hypertensive urban American Indians. One study group will receive the DASH intervention, which includes a culturally tailored eating plan plus a weekly $30 grocery credit for DASH foods. The control group will receive the same weekly credit for any grocery purchases they wish to make, along with educational materials on hypertension management.
Funding Agency: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Project Name: Diet Intervention for Hypertension: Adaptation and Dissemination to Native Communities (R01HL126578)
Project Years: 2015-2020
Partners: University of Oklahoma, NATIVE Project of Spokane
Site Principal Investigators: Valarie Blue Bird Jernigan