Articles by Amanda Merck

Report: Latinos in the Deep South Struggle with Health Care, Stigmatization, Immigration Challenges

February 4, 2015

Latinos in the Southern U.S. contribute to their communities, but struggle with accessing healthcare, stigmatization and immigration challenges, according to a new report. The report, The State of Latinos in the Deep South: Being Visible by Piercing the Stigma Veil from the Latinos in the Deep South program of the Latino Commission on AIDS, documents how Latinos in this region are firmly rooted, local contributors who have been adversely impacted by HIV/AIDS, chronic diseases, and national and local policies. The report was led by Dr. Miriam Vega of the Latino Commission on AIDS. Vega, who also is a former grantee of Salud America!, a Latino childhod obesity research network led by the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, ...

Thinking of Starting a Family? Put These 5 Things on Your To-Do List

February 3, 2015

Preconception can set up a baby for optimal health. This is especially true for Latinos, who have higher rates of premature birth in the nation than whites. That's why the Someday Starts Now campaign, from the Texas Department of State Health Services, has five health tips for would-be parents—before a baby is on the way—so that if/when baby comes, he or she will have the right start: Get at least 60 minutes of exercise daily. Exercise helps reduce stress, strengthen the heart and improve sleep patterns. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it part of your daily routine. For example, sign up for a group yoga class (many community centers offer free ones), hit the bike trails with friends or or just go on a daily neighborhood walk. Eat better meals. Instead of taking on ...

Salud America! Gets $1.3M to Fuel Policy Changes that Reduce Latino Childhood Obesity

February 2, 2015

Latino children are more obese/overweight than their white and black peers, and they face many barriers to healthy lifestyles, studies show. Who is stepping up for Latino kids? Salud America! The RWJF Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children this week received a one-year, $1.3 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to develop new evidence and educational content that empowers people to drive healthy policy changes for Latino children. The new funding allows Salud America! to expand its membership, which has recruited more than 10,000 parents, leaders, academics, and advocates. The network also will conduct research reviews and policy recommendations to guide anti-obesity efforts. It also will enhance its award-winning Salud America! ...

WINNING #SaludHeroes Video: Bike Trains and Safe Routes to School!

January 30, 2015

Who won the #SaludHeroes video voting contest of January 2015? Jeff Anderson and other parents joined with school and community leaders to push for new school district transportation policies that made it easier and safer for kids to "bike train" or walk to school in Fairfax, Va., which has a growing Latino population. Read their story! Or watch their video! It received the most votes in our contest, which ran Jan. 13-27, 2015. And stay tuned for new voting contests from Salud America! The RWJF Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children, which aims to activate and inform the public, groups and policymakers targeting Latino childhood obesity. The network is a project of the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at The UT Health Science Center at San ...

Who Is the Latina Behind Salud America?

January 28, 2015

Dr. Amelie Ramirez created the Salud America! program and social media campaign to raise awareness of Latino health equity and drive solutions. But just who is Ramirez? Check out this new profile of Ramirez that describes how she emerged from humble beginnings in Laredo, Texas, developed a desire to help her population get healthier, and has spent 30 years dedicating her life to using research, interventions, innovative educational communications, and community outreach to promote healthful behaviors among Latinos. "My passion is based on the knowledge that our Hispanic population has not received enough information on how to reduce and prevent health problems," Ramirez said. "They develop more of the chronic diseases. And, as time passes, their rates of getting these diseases ...

Getting More Latinos Covered with Health Insurance

January 27, 2015

SaludToday Guest Blogger: Annette Raveneau National Latino Press Secretary, Enroll America Obamacare’s open enrollment ends Feb. 15. But what does that mean exactly? I did not know what any lingo related to the health insurance industry meant even when I had health insurance through my previous jobs. Well, open enrollment is the window of opportunity you have to choose a health plan or switch from the one you have to another one. With the Health Insurance Marketplace – which is the market that the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) established so everybody that is uninsured or underinsured can shop for quality, affordable health insurance – the open enrollment period for this year is from Nov. 15, 2014 until Feb. 15, 2015. So, this window is closing in less than a ...

#SaludTues Tweetchat 1/27/15: How to Spark A Culture of Fitness & Fun in Latino Communities

January 23, 2015

From brain breaks to 5Ks and bike trains—parents and leaders all across the country are discovering creative ways to help Latino kids find fun ways to stay fit. But there’s still more to do, and you can help share what's working! Join us for a #SaludTues Tweetchat, “How to Spark A Culture of Fitness & Fun in Latino Communities,” on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015 at noon central (1 p.m. eastern) to discuss, innovative, practical solutions for inspiring healthy change. We’ll also showcase six new Salud Hero videos to show you ways you can be a part of the creating a lasting culture of fitness and fun in your community. VOTE for your favorite #SaludHeroes by 1/27/15, and we’ll enter you into a random drawing for a free T-shirt and jump rope! On Tuesday, use #SaludTues ...

7 Vital Eye Health Tips for Latinos, Who Struggle with Glaucoma

January 23, 2015

What's one of the world's leading cause of blindness? Glaucoma—and it's far more prevalent in Latinos and blacks. Glaucoma, a gradual eye disease that causes damage to the optic nerve, has few symptoms. Peripheral or side vision begins to worsen without patients realizing it, which enables the disease to progress into later stages, according to the Mount Sinai Health System. How can you prevent it (and keep your eyes healthy)? According to the National Eye Institute (NEI): Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect diseases like glaucoma in their early stages. Know your family's eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with a disease or condition since many are hereditary. Eat right to ...

Sanchez: Latinas, Take Care of Your Heart Health

January 22, 2015

Latinas are "the heart, el corazón, of the home, acting as gatekeepers for their loved ones' well-being. "But it is their own hearts that are in danger." So says Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, chief medical officer for prevention at the American Heart Association, in a great new Huffington Post op-ed. Sanchez cites statistics that show Latinas are likely to develop heart disease 10 years earlier than white women. And it's the No. 1 killer of Latinas. Yet, he says, "80 percent of cardiac events can be prevented with education and lifestyle changes, lifestyle changes as simple as: cooking traditional foods with healthier ingredients; exercising as a family; asking for blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol checks; and even going grocery shopping together as a family for healthier ...

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Amanda Merck

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