Free Program Seeks to Ease Stress, Promote Heart Health in San Antonio



The way into a person’s heart is through their mind — at least that’s the case in the “A Mindful Heart: Stress Management for Individuals with Hypertension” program. Program leader Dr. Stacy Ogbeide of the Department of Family & Community Medicine at UT Health San Antonio is taking a psychological approach to address hypertension, which is a key risk factor for many heart diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Ogbeide is looking for adults with high blood pressure living in San Antonio to participate in a free program that focuses on stress management intervention in a group setting, which can include education, arousal reduction, such as relaxation training, and behavioral skills training, like coping strategies. “The group format has been recommended when ...

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San Antonio: Apply for Money to Help Translate Science to Benefit Public Health



The Institute for Integration of Medicine & Science (IIMS) at UT Health San Antonio and the UTSA College for Health, Community, and Policy (HCaP) are now accepting proposals for one-year Community Engagement Small Project Grants.  The grants, which are worth up to $5,000, are given in hopes of promoting, developing, and expanding community and scholarly research partnerships aimed at turning science into clinical reality.  Funds awarded can be used for community-engaged research or assessment, education or training, and the distribution of research results, project details, or policy implications.  “The goals of community engagement are to build trust, discover new resources and allies, create better communication, and improve overall health outcomes as successful ...

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Latino Pedestrians in Greater Danger across America


complete streets San Antonio

Metro areas are more dangerous for pedestrians, especially Latinos and other minorities, than in previous years, according to a new study. The study, Dangerous By Design 2016 by Smart Growth America, found that pedestrians of color, older adults, and low-income metro areas are more likely to die. Pedestrian safety is worsening in largely Latino metro areas like Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Jose and Riverside, Calif., due to issues of policy, design, enforcement, and culture. Latinos, who comprise 16.9% of the U.S. population, account for 21.5% of pedestrian deaths overall. There's more reason for concern, too. Unsafe streets are a major hurdle for people trying to be physically active, stay healthy, or get to school or work. This situation collides (pun ...

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Latino-Led Advocates Sue Coca-Cola for Deceptive Marketing


coca-cola bottles

The Praxis Project, an California advocacy group led by Latino advocate Xavier Morales, filed a legal complaint against Coca-Cola and the American Beverage Association for deceptive marketing practices that push sugary drinks to communities of color. The legal complaint indicates "the world’s largest soft-drink maker and the trade association run ads that tout the energy boost from drinking soda, and disregard scientific findings that sugary beverages can lead to obesity, diabetes and heart problems," according to a CBS News report. The complaint was filed in federal court in California. Both Coca-Cola and the American Beverage Association called the lawsuit as unfounded, and said they are working to lower the public’s sugar consumption, CBS News reports. The Praxis ...

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Investigación sobre la Obesidad Infantil Latino, Infografías y Vídeos Animados


Escuelas Saludables spanish espanol salud america

Cuatro nuevo informes de investigación en español, infografías, y vídeos animados que hablan de las causas y soluciones innovadoras hacia la obesidad infantil Latina, investigado por Salud America!, una red nacional de prevención basada en UT Health Science Center en San Antonio y fundado por la Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Los materiales en español, publicados en ingles durante los principios del 2016, enfrentan las críticas razones por la cual los niños Latinos son más obesos y más sobrepeso que sus padres. Los materiales también muestran tácticas para revertir la epidemia, basados en la evidencia. “Queremos que la gente comparten estos materiales con sus amigos, su familia y las personas influyentes para crecer el conocimiento de las problemas de salud en los ...

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Making Awesome Changes: Tips for a Health Revolution



How can busy families stay healthy? Dr. Amelie Ramirez, a San Antonio health expert and leader of SaludToday, said it's going to take individual and systemic change. For systems, that means more local farmer's markets. Healthier cafeteria food. More physical activity programs during school, and opening playgrounds to families after school. For people, that means staying away from the middle aisles at the grocery store, where junk food is prevalent. Parents making healthy meals with kids. Make a game of reading food labels. Limiting screen time. More outdoor play time. Ramirez was featured this week on the Making Awesome Changes TV series, which partners San Antonio's KSAT-TV and Salud America! to feature people pushing for healthy changes. Salud America!, a Latino ...

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How to Make Every Park a Destination for Fitness


Fitness in the Park San Antonio

Are people in your city physically inactive? Community leaders in largely Latino San Antonio knew people weren't active enough, and had high risk of heart disease, diabetes, asthma, stroke, depression, stress, and more. So the city's Parks and Recreation Department helped launch Fit Pass and Fitness in the Park—two accessible, affordable strategies to attract Latino and all residents to be active at local parks and improve their mental and physical health. The city's excited progress is featured in a new Rivard Report article and Salud Heroes story by Amanda Merck of Salud America!, a national Latino childhood obesity prevention network based at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. For Fitness in the Park, city health worker Pete Garcia and his team developed a plan ...

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Tell Your State PTA: Get Schools to Share Playgrounds!


playground locked with kids

School is back! But when classes end, does your school lock up its recreational facilities? Many Latino families live near schools that lock fields, courts, pools, and playgrounds before and after class—meaning kids miss physical, mental, and emotional benefits of physical activity and play. Tell your State PTA to help get schools to open school rec facilities after class with “Shared Use” or “Open Use” policies! Open or shared use policies can serve as a beacon of good health for local residents, boost community safety, and increase children’s opportunities for physical activity, which is scientifically proven to reduce disease risk and contribute to physical, mental, and social well-being. Open use policies allow a school to formally grant public access to its ...

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How to Fight for Breastfeeding in Your City



Breastfeeding is a scientifically proven way to reduce risk of disease and create a healthy future for kids and moms. But not all moms get breastfeeding support they need. Latina moms especially have less support for breastfeeding in hospitals, the workplace, and early child care settings than their white peers, according to a new Rivard Report article by Amanda Merck of Salud America!, a national Latino child health network funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and based at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. Merck's article highlights ways to increase breastfeeding support for Latina and all moms: Baby Café. Norma Sifuentes and Diana Montano, two San Antonio health workers, took advantage of a funding opportunity to create Baby Café. The facility is a ...

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