The winter holidays are nearing, which means a drop in temperatures and a rise in flu! From October 1, 2024, through April 30, 2025, officials recorded 38,960 flu-associated hospitalizations, according to the University of Minnesota. The first week of December is recognized as National Influenza Vaccination Week, a time to promote and remind others of the importance of getting vaccinated. How does flu season impact Latinos and all people? What preventive steps can you and your family take? Find a Flu Vaccine Near You!
Latinos and Flu Rates
Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs, according to the It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. A 2021 study found that ...
While childhood obesity remains a problem in the US, much progress has been made to address the epidemic over the past 20 years. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) recently published its 2025 State of Childhood Obesity Report to reflect on the national movement to address childhood obesity and its many accomplishments and lessons learned over time. “Our work together has always been grounded in a simple belief: that every child should be able to grow up healthy, no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money their family has,” said Jamie Bussel, RWJF senior officer. Let’s dive deeper into this report and how it can shape efforts to address childhood obesity.
1. Major Commitments Require Vision, Staying Power
The RWJF report describes the skyrocketing ...
National Marrow Awareness Month is observed in November. This is a time to recognize transplant physicians, pioneering researchers, and selfless donors who make life-saving stem cell and bone marrow transplants possible, according to according to OriGen Biomedical. “Their combined efforts embody the true meaning of hope, healing, and humanity,” according to the company. With this in mind, let’s explore how bone marrow donations can help others, recognize donors, and educate others about marrow and stem cell donation.
What is Bone Marrow and Why is it Needed?
About 18,000 people in the U.S. with leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other serious blood disorders need a bone marrow or stem cell transplant to survive every year, according to the Columbia University Herbert ...
When the holidays season is in full swing, families and friends gather to enjoy time together over warms meals and plenty of dessert. But sometimes food spoils the party. Every year, foodborne diseases sicken 1 in 6 Americans (48 million people), hospitalize 128,000 people, and kill 3,000 people, according to the CDC. Let’s tackle how we can prepare food safely and keep the holidays healthy.
What Is Food Poisoning?
You can get sick with food poisoning after swallowing certain germs like salmonella. Common symptoms include: Diarrhea
Stomach pain or cramps
Nausea
Vomiting
Fever “Most people have mild illnesses [from food poisoning], but some infections spread by food are serious or even life-threatening. Some people may need ...
November is recognized as National Diabetes Awareness Month in the U.S. 29.3 million Americans have diagnosed diabetes and 9.7 million adults have undiagnosed diabetes as of 2024, according to the American Heart Association. Diabetes self-management education and support can help people with diabetes gain knowledge, skills, and personalized support. “Adults who receive [diabetes education] follow more recommended preventive care practices,” according to the CDC. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of helpful tools and resources to help people explore, manage, and prevent diabetes.
Resources from the American Diabetes Association
For National Diabetes Awareness Month, also known as American Diabetes Month, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has several ...
November is National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM)! NFCM is an opportunity to recognize family caregivers across the country and “raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers,” according to the Administration for Community Living. “Being a caregiver can bring joy and purpose, but it can also lead to stress, exhaustion, and worry about mental health for both you and your loved one,” according to Mental Health America. With this in mind, we've compiled a list of where tools and resources for family caregivers can be found.
Latinos and Caregiving
"Family caregivers include parents, friends, neighbors, and even children, and they span across
all ages, races and ethnicities, incomes, and communities," according ...
Latinos continue to be one of the fastest growing groups in the U.S., rising to 20% of the population for the first time this past year, according to the U.S. Census. In addition, Pew Research Center shared these facts: Latinos have played a major role in U.S. population growth.
The sources of Latino population growth have changed in recent years.
S. Latinos trace their roots to many countries.
California and Texas have the nation’s largest Latino populations.
The share of U.S. Latinos with college experience is rising.
The religious affiliation of U.S. Latinos is changing. Let’s dig deeper into these facts and how they can impact others.
Latino Population Growth in the U.S.
The U.S. was home to 340,110,988 people in 2024. Of those, 195 million are ...
Type 2 diabetes has increased at an alarming rate in children, increasing to between 24% and 45% (compared to 1-2% before the mid-1990s), with the average age of diagnosis being around 13 years old, according to research. This can deeply effect young Latinos, as more than 22% of Latino youth and 28.7% of Latino young adults have prediabetes. Many factors contribute to this rise, including childhood obesity, genetics, and diet. Now, researchers from Florida Atlantic University have found that where a child lives can also factor into their risk for type 2 diabetes. Let’s explore this research and see how it impacts children and their communities.
Behind the Research on Diabetes in Children
Researchers for Florida Atlantic University’s ’s Charles E. Schmidt College of ...
Do you smoke cigarettes and want to quit? On Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, you can join thousands of people who will begin their smoke-free journey with the Great American Smokeout, an annual quitting event. To get help, enroll in Quitxt, a free English or Spanish texting service that turns your phone into a personal “quit smoking” coach from UT Health San Antonio. To join Quitxt, text “iquit” (for English) or “lodejo” (for Spanish) to 844-332-2058. And, if you’re in the San Antonio area, visit the “Mega Lung,” a giant model of a human lung that shows the importance of the respiratory system’s most vital organ.
Step Inside the Mega Lung
The MEGA Lung is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, at the Neighborhood Place cafeteria, 3014 Rivas Street, San ...
