The influences of race and environment on ischemic heart disease

Certain "primitive" peoples such as traditional-living nomadic Eskimos have as yet been spared from the current epidemic of ischemic heart disease. A review of risk factors for underdeveloped populations suggests that environment rather than constitution is responsible. Favourable factors include the absence of overeating, a substantial level of of physical activity, only recent acquisition of the cigarette habit and absence of competitiveness. However, risk factors generally operate as in the "white" community, and where a Western lifestyle is embraced through either migration or acculturation the prevalence of ischemic heart disease rapidly increases to the levels encountered in "civilized" groups.