As Radio Waatea launches its Men’s Health Week series examining the five biggest preventable killers of tāne Māori, it begins with the issue that health experts have consistently identified as the nation’s leading cause of premature death among Māori men: cardiovascular disease.
For many Māori whānau, heart disease and stroke are not distant statistics. They are lived experiences that arrive without warning and leave lasting impacts on families, communities and future generations.
This reporter knows that reality firsthand, having survived both a heart attack and a stroke.
Over the years, Waatea has produced more than a thousand hauora stories, interviewing Health Ministers, cardiologists, Māori health providers, public health researchers, nurses and frontline kaimahi. While the issues have varied, one message has remained remarkably consistent: too many Māori men are dying too young from conditions that are often preventable.
According to health data, ischaemic heart disease remains the leading cause of premature death for tāne Māori. Māori men die from heart disease at more than twice the rate of non-Māori men and often die between five and fifteen years earlier.
The reasons are complex.
Health experts point to a combination of socio-economic deprivation, barriers to healthcare, lower access to preventative screening, higher smoking rates, chronic stress, poorer housing conditions and long-standing inequities within the health system.
Yet specialists are equally clear that there are practical steps men can take today to dramatically reduce their risk.
The Silent Killer
One of the greatest dangers of cardiovascular disease is that it often develops without obvious symptoms.
High blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and rising blood sugar levels can quietly damage arteries for years before a heart attack or stroke occurs.
Many men feel healthy until the day they don’t.
That is why doctors repeatedly stress the importance of regular health checks.
Knowing your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels can identify problems long before they become life-threatening.
Health advocates say one of the most powerful decisions any Māori man can make is simply booking an appointment with a GP and asking for a cardiovascular health assessment.
Food as Medicine
What men eat every day plays a major role in determining heart health.
Nutrition experts recommend focusing on whole foods including vegetables, fruit, legumes and whole grains while reducing highly processed foods that are often loaded with salt, sugar and unhealthy fats.
Heart-healthy proteins such as fish and lean poultry are encouraged, along with healthy fats found in foods such as salmon, avocado and walnuts.
Reducing sodium intake can significantly lower blood pressure, while limiting sugary drinks helps reduce the risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes — another major contributor to cardiovascular disease.
Move More, Live Longer
Physical activity remains one of the most effective ways to strengthen the heart and reduce disease risk.
Current guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week.
That does not necessarily mean joining a gym.
Walking, cycling, swimming, kapa haka, gardening, sports and active mahi around the marae can all contribute to better cardiovascular fitness.
Strength training at least twice a week is also recommended to improve overall health and reduce risk factors linked to heart disease.
The Lifestyle Factors We Can Change
Smoking remains one of the biggest contributors to cardiovascular disease among Māori men.
Health professionals say quitting smoking is one of the fastest ways to improve heart health and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Alcohol consumption can also influence cardiovascular health, particularly when drinking patterns become excessive.
Sleep is another often-overlooked factor. Research increasingly shows that poor sleep increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. Most adults require between seven and nine hours of quality sleep each night.
Managing stress is equally important.
Long-term stress raises blood pressure and contributes to inflammation throughout the body. Experts recommend mindfulness, relaxation techniques, exercise, social connection and spending time with whānau as ways to reduce stress and support wellbeing.
A Māori Health Challenge
Māori health providers have repeatedly called for stronger investment in prevention and earlier intervention, arguing that too often resources are focused on treating disease after it develops rather than preventing it in the first place.
They say culturally responsive healthcare, improved access to screening and stronger community-led health initiatives are critical to closing the life expectancy gap between Māori and non-Māori.
The message from experts is straightforward: heart disease is not inevitable.
While not every case can be prevented, many heart attacks and strokes can be avoided through earlier detection, healthier lifestyles and better access to care.
For Waatea’s Men’s Health Week series, cardiovascular disease stands at number one not simply because it is the leading killer of tāne Māori, but because it is also one of the health issues where prevention can make the greatest difference.
Tomorrow, the focus turns to lung cancer — another disease that continues to claim too many Māori lives.
For now, the challenge is simple: know your numbers, talk to your doctor, look after your heart and encourage the men around you to do the same.
Because every statistic represents a father, a son, a brother, an uncle or a koro whose whānau deserve more time together.
