Eric Moreno is a Content Curator with the Salud America! program at UT Health San Antonio. He specializes in covering the topics of health equity and family and social support. He holds a BA from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an MA from Gonzaga University.
Many health disparities exist for the Latino community. Obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer are more prevalent among Latinos than in any other racial or ethnic minority group. Barriers (social, cultural, and financial) also exist that keep Latinos from obtaining preventative health services. One barrier that is rapidly becoming a problem in California (38.18% Latino population) is the disturbing lack of Latino healthcare professionals. One program is looking to change that. The University of California – Davis has partnered with the Permanente Medical Group to create the Prep Médico program, which offers health courses, lectures, and shadowing opportunities to low-income freshman and sophomore students from Central and Northern California who can ...
In the past few years, some foods beloved by Latinos and many other Americans have come under fire by scientific studies for their link to increased cancer risk. Even Nutella. Palm oil, a key ingredient in Nutella, a popular hazelnut and chocolate spread, may contribute to cancer risk, according to a recent report. This finding comes on the heels of another report on palm oil, an edible ingredient used in a wide variety of foods, was found to contain “a potential carcinogenic contaminant." The report didn't urge against eating products with palm oil, and suggested additional research. Nutella's parent company defends its inclusion of palm oil as safe because it is freshly squeezed fruits processed at controlled temperatures, Reuters reports. Regardless, this isn't the only ...
For millions, childhood poverty can have lifelong consequences that affect future health, education, financial earnings, employment, and more. According to a new report, one in five American children are classified as being “poor” and near two in five will be poor for at least one year before turning 18. These figures translate into nearly 29 million children. According to the Pew Research Center, there were 55.3 million Hispanics in the United States in 2014, making up 17.3% of the overall population in the U.S. Of this rapidly growing number, 23.5% were classified as living in poverty. The poverty numbers offer some stark and harsh realities. For infants born into poverty, nearly 50% will grow up to be “persistently” poor, spending at least half of their childhoods in ...
Since the passing of the ACA, Latinos have benefitted from the benefitted greatly, reducing their rate of uninsured by nearly 8%. This year’s Open Enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace has proven this trend to again be correct. Hundreds of thousands of Latinos have again taken part and gotten coverage. “Nationwide demand for health coverage is higher than ever, as Americans prove again that Marketplace coverage is vital to them and their families,” said Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell in a news release. “For Americans who have not yet signed up, it’s not too late.” In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and policies. Join our site, connect with ...
For those still shopping for coverage for this year, the deadline to have coverage by February 1 is rapidly approaching. To get coverage starting then, people need to sign up by midnight on January 15. To date, 8.8 million Americans had signed up for coverage through HealthCare.gov since the beginning of Open Enrollment in November of last year. Latinos have benefitted more than just about any other racial or ethnic group since the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Over 4.2 million Latinos (ages 18-64) have gained health insurance coverage, lowering the uninsured rate among Latinos by 7.7%. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and policies. Join our site, connect with others, and get ...
Fact: Latinos face greater risks of kidney disease and kidney failure than whites. The numbers behind that fact show Latinos are 1.5 times more likely to have kidney failure than any other race or ethnicity, according to the National Kidney Foundation. New research indicates this health issue might even be more serious than previously thought. Women with prior kidney damage may face an increased risk for pregnancy complications, according to a new study into kidney conditions, as reported by HealthDay. The study, from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, reviewed data from almost 25,000 women who gave birth at there between 1998 and 2007. Just over 100 women in that group had experienced acute kidney injuries and they had much higher rates of a condition known as ...
The annual Get It Done! Festival will take place on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017 at Marc T. Atkinson Middle School in Phoenix, AZ (40.48% Latino population). The free family event provides medical, dental, and vision checkups to school-age kids. There are also free immunization shots, haircuts, and other services for the whole family. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and policies. Join our site, connect with others, and get involved. Experts will also be on hand to answer medical questions, help with health insurance, tax preparation, education, and more. There will also be live entertainment, arts and crafts, and games for the family. Read more about the event here. Read stories similar to this ...
Any parent can tell you that raising a child requires a lot of time, patience, love, and understanding. In a more practical sense, it also requires an investment of the monetary kind. Raising a child is an expensive undertaking and, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), it has become more expensive than ever. A new report entitled “The Cost of Raising a Child” estimates that, for a child born in 2015, a “middle-income” married-couple family will need to spend anywhere between $12,350 and $13,900 annually until the child turns 17. When it is all added up, families are expected to spend an average of $233,610 on child-rearing expenses. Lower income families are expected to spend $174,690; for higher income families, the cost is anticipated to be ...
More than 10 million Americans, including higher rates of Latinos, excessively drink alcohol to the point it negatively impacts their lives. Now, new research links alcohol abuse to a big cause of death: heart disease. Abusing alcohol increases the likelihood of suffering atrial fibrillation, heart attack or congestive heart failure, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, CNN reports. “One of the most surprising findings... is that people who abused alcohol are at increased risk for heart attack or myocardial infarction,” said Dr. Gregory M. Marcus, director of clinical research in the Division of Cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco and senior author of the study. “Past data suggests that moderate drinking ...
