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Alyssa Gonzales

Articles by Alyssa Gonzales

Percentage of Uninsured Latinos Decreases to 18%



US Latinos and other racial/ethnic minority populations made historic gains in healthcare coverage in the years after the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to five recent research briefs from the US Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). In the research brief focused on Latinos, research showed that the uninsured rate for nonelderly Latinos decreased from 32.7% to 18% from 2010 to 2022. However, the brief also found that Latinos are more than twice as likely as non-Latino Whites to be uninsured. Let’s further explore health insurance coverage among Latinos. Latinos Facing Health Barriers For Latinos, health outcomes are affected by factors like lack of health insurance, language and cultural barriers, and lack of access to care. “Studies ...

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Addressing Heart Failure in Latinos with Close the Gap Resources



Heart disease risk is high for U.S. Latinos, data shows. While most Latinos were aware of their cardiovascular risk factors, less than half of the adults in a study of stroke survivors had healthy blood pressure and cholesterol, and only half had healthy blood sugar levels, according to the American Heart Association. “Hispanic adults are more likely than white adults to develop heart failure. But Hispanic adults living with heart failure are less likely to get appropriate care and treatment than white adults living with heart failure,” according to a Close the Gap resource. This emphasizes the importance of targeted prevention programs and culturally relevant resources for Latinos to avoid stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular diseases. That’s where Close the ...

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Ruling Expands Health Care Coverage to DACA Recipients


doctor patient communication clinical trial

Federal regulators recently published a final rule to expand healthcare for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and certain other noncitizens. The rule – which modifies the definition of “lawfully present” – essentially opens enrollment in the healthcare marketplace to those in the DACA program, many of whom are Latinos. The ruling will take effect on Nov. 1, 2024. Salud America! members were among 530 people who submitted a public comment last year to support this expansion of healthcare access to DACA recipients. “This overdue step is a critical victory for equitable access to health care,” according to the National Immigration Law Center. Let’s dive further into what this ruling means and how it will impact Latinos. What is DACA? ...

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11 Recursos Increíbles para Cuidadores de un Ser Querido con un Tumor Cerebral



Un tumor cerebral es un diagnóstico que cambia la vida. Pero no todos los tumores cerebrales son iguales. Son únicos, al igual que su impacto en el cuerpo, las emociones y la calidad de vida de una persona. Por eso necesitamos compañeros de cuidado. Las personas que enfrentan un diagnóstico de tumor cerebral a menudo dependen de un compañero de cuidado o cuidador: un amigo, un miembro de la familia u otra persona que ayuda con sus actividades diarias. De hecho, una cuarta parte de los estadounidenses actúan como cuidadores de un ser querido, ya sea un familiar o amigo. Vamos a explorar cómo un cuidador de alguien con un tumor cerebral puede equilibrar el cuidado con sus obligaciones personales y profesionales, y dónde puede encontrar apoyo y recursos. 1. Aprender ...

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11 Amazing Resources for Caregivers of a Loved One with a Brain Tumor



A brain tumor is a life-changing diagnosis. But not all brain tumors are the same. They are unique, as is their impact on a person’s body, emotions, and quality of life. That is why we need care partners. People navigating a brain tumor diagnosis often rely on a care partner or caregiver – a friend, familia member, or someone else helping with their everyday activities. In fact, a quarter of Americans serve as caregivers to a beloved family member or friend. Let’s dive into how a caregiver for someone with a brain tumor can balance care with their personal and professional obligations, and where to get support and resources. Access this resource in Spanish! 1. Learn More about Brain Tumors Like the patient, caregivers and care partners need to learn more about ...

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What Does Life Look Like with a Brain Tumor?



Of course, no one wants to hear they have cancer. But if you or someone in your familia has a brain tumor, it is natural to wonder what life will look like. This is what we call “quality of life” (QoL), or an individual’s sense of well-being and ability to enjoy and participate in life. “For those living with a brain tumor, QoL may encompass a wide range of physical, psychosocial, and emotional concerns stemming from loss of functionality and changes in personality,” according to the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS). From rehabilitation to mental health to return-to-work resources, let’s dive deeper into QoL and what it means for someone with a brain tumor. Access this resource in Spanish! Facing a Brain Tumor Diagnosis A brain tumor or other cancer ...

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¿Cómo es la Vida con un Tumor Cerebral?



Por supuesto, nadie quiere escuchar que tiene cáncer.  Pero si usted  o alguien en su familia tiene un tumor cerebral, es normal pensar cómo será la vida con este diagnóstico.  Esto es lo que llamamos “calidad de vida”, o el bienestar y capacidad para disfrutar y participar en la vida.  “Para aquellos con un tumor cerebral, la calidad de vida puede incluir un rango amplio de dificultades físicas, psicológicas/sociales, y emocionales relacionadas a la pérdida de ciertas funciones y cambios de personalidad” según la Sociedad Nacional de Tumores Cerebrales (NBTS/SNTC). Desde la rehabilitación hasta la salud mental y recursos para volver al  trabajo, profundicemos en la calidad de vida y qué significa para alguien con un tumor cerebral.  Enfrentando un ...

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Para Su Familia: Entendiendo El Glioma de Bajo Grado



El soldado del Ejército Estadunidense,Tony Rentas, oriundo/originario de Puerto Rico, quien había soñado toda su vida con servir en el Ejército, sufrió una convulsión durante una misión en Kosovo. A Tony le diagnosticaron un glioma de bajo grado, un tipo raro de tumor cerebral. No tenía ni idea de lo que era un glioma de bajo grado. Así que empezó a buscar en Google. Encontró poco que le ayudará a entender este diagnóstico y lo que significaba para él y su familia, y aún menos estaba disponible en español. Por eso Tony está compartiendo su historia y participando en el Registro Internacional de Glioma de Bajo Grado, que tiene como objetivo  aprender más sobre las mejores formas de tratar estos tumores en diferentes grupos de personas, incluyendo a miembros ...

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For Your Familia: Understanding Low Grade Glioma



U.S. Army soldier Tony Rentas, a native of Puerto Rico who dreamed of serving in the military all his life, had a seizure while on a mission in Kosovo. Tony was diagnosed with a low grade glioma, a rare type of brain tumor. He had no idea what a low grade glioma was. So, he started Googling. He found little that helped him understand this diagnosis and what it meant for him and his familia, and even less was available in Spanish. That is why Tony is sharing his story and participating in the International Low Grade Glioma Registry, which hopes to learn more about the best ways to treat these tumors across different groups of people, including members of the Hispanic/Latino community. “One of the biggest things that I wanted to do is help people as much as I can,” Tony ...

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