Gabriela Mistral, born as Lucila Godoy Alcayaga in Chile, was the first Latina author to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945. Her poems explore deeply cultural issues of spirituality, heartbreak, death, and childhood. But beyond her verse and prose, Mistral also changed lives in Latin America and beyond through advocacy, education, and diplomacy. “She tried to speak for [the disadvantaged] through her poetry, her many newspaper articles, her letters, and her talks and actions as Chilean representative in international organizations,” according to the Poetry Foundation. “Above all, she was concerned about the future of Latin America and its peoples and cultures, particularly those of the native groups.”
Gabriela Mistral – Her Early Life
Born in ...
Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance, according to the National Institute on Aging. But what do you really know about Parkinson’s and your risk? Let’s dive into the causes, symptoms, and treatment of Parkinson’s and how it impacts Latinos.
What Causes Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive and chronic nervous system disorder that affects movement and is caused by destroyed nerve cells in the brain. “A decrease in dopamine levels leads to abnormal brain activity, causing symptoms of Parkinson's disease. However, it is currently unknown what causes the death of neurons in the brain,” according to dementia.org. While the exact ...
Mental Health America (MHA) has published the Selfies, Social, & Screens: Navigating Virtual Spaces for Youth toolkit to help younger people’s technology habits. “Parents, caretakers, and household members act as the main influence on a child’s use of technology,” said Schroeder Stribling, President and CEO of Mental Health America. Let’s examine youth mental health, the helpful resources that this toolkit contains, and how you and others you know can benefit from it.
How Technology Use Impacts Mental Health
Virtual habits and activity can have a large impact on the mental health of young people. “Children and teens are dealing with the intense emotions of growing up in a digital age where much of their lives are spent online,” according to ...
Susan G. Komen, a national breast cancer research and advocacy organization, has launched its Navigation Nation interactive learning community for patient navigators – those who help guide cancer patients to overcome barriers toward quality healthcare. The program brings individuals through a Patient Navigation Training Program and access to courses, webinars, and other educational events. “The training program gives navigators the tools and resources to overcome barriers for those experiencing breast health inequities and provides a peer network and support system,” according to the Komen website. Learn more about this free program and what it entails, and how you can join.
What is Komen’s Patient Navigation Training Program?
This program was designed ...
Medicare can be a complex topic for anyone. Getting health insurance coverage through Medicare has many moving parts, from knowing where to start, to searching through plans, to choosing the right plan for you. Let's dive into Medicare and a few helpful tips to consider when choosing your plan.
What is Medicare?
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, regardless of income, medical history, or health status. The program also covers certain younger people with disabilities and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD; permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant). “Medicare plays a key role in providing health and financial security to 60 million older people and younger people with ...
The Zero Breast Cancer (ZBC) organization created Generations, a campaign to give culturally relevant information to young adults about how endocrine disrupting chemicals and their impact on health across generations. ZBC has now adapted Generations educational tools into Spanish with Generaciones. “At Zero Breast Cancer, we believe that language should not be a barrier when it comes to accessing important health information,” according to ZBC. “Our goal is to educate young adults and other community members about the multi-generational impact of [endocrine disrupting chemicals] and inspire simple actions that we can take to reduce exposure.” Let’s dive further into these bilingual resources and why they’re important.
Protecting Future Generations
The ...
Latinos have the second-highest rate of dying from liver cancer among racial/ethnic groups. Understanding the reasons why this is happening can reveal how to address this suffering and prevent liver cancer among Latinos, which can improve health for the broader population. “Understanding the causes of Latino liver cancer rates in South Texas and across the nation is critical. We must develop interventions and identify high-risk individuals who may be screened and treated with the best available care,” said Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. So, why does liver cancer hurt Latinos in particular?
1. Aflatoxin Exposure
Aflatoxins are a family of toxins produced by certain fungi ...
Researchers at The Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio are recruiting participants for the VIVA-MIND study to learn whether a new drug therapy for Alzheimer’s disease can help people experiencing mild memory problems. Volunteers ages 50 to 89 with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or probable mild Alzheimer’s may ask about eligibility for VIVA-MIND, said Dr. Sudha Seshadri, professor of neurology and director of the Glenn Biggs Institute. Half of volunteers will be given the new drug therapy, an oral pill called varoglutamstat. The other half will receive a placebo pill that looks just like the study drug. “The first people who will benefit from a new Alzheimer’s disease treatment are those who are ...
We know many types of cancer deeply and disproportionately affect U.S. Latinos. Liver cancer is a particular problem. In fact, Latinos have the second-highest rate of dying from liver cancer among racial/ethnic groups, according to the CDC. Let’s examine the data and unpack this rising crisis for Latinos.
What is Liver Cancer?
The liver has many important jobs in the body. It plays a role in digestion, supporting healthy blood flow, breaking down needed nutrients, and more. Liver cancer can start at any part of the liver. The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). “Liver cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the liver. The liver is one of the largest organs in the body. It has ...