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.
Latinos face many inequities in attaining quality and affordable healthcare. Cultural and language barriers are often in place keeping many Latinos, especially Latino immigrants, from getting the healthcare that they need. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded over $950,000 in funds to George Washington University to research health disparities among the Latino immigrant and refugee communities. “The changing demographics of the U.S. population in which recent immigrants are playing a key role in population growth have and will continue to exert a major influence on the course of health disparities,” the grant abstract stated. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and policies. Join our site, connect ...
Is yawning "contagious"? Do we yawn because we're tired, sleepy, or missing our morning coffee? Science has several explanations for why we yawn, including several surprises that reveal a lot about the health of your body. For a long time, many believed that a yawn meant you had too little oxygen. Today researchers believe that yawning and breathing are controlled by two different mechanisms in the brain, according to Prevention Magazine. Here are four scientific reasons we yawn, and what they mean for your body, according to Prevention Magazine: Your brain needs “cooling.” A recent theory indicates that you yawn to give your brain some fresh air – and cool it down and give it extra energy in certain moments (when you have big yawns), according to the magazine. ...
Medicare, the federal health insurance program for adults age 65 and older and adults with permanent disabilities, is currently in its Open Enrollment period through December 7. Latinos are the largest and fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States. Many disparities exist for Latinos and they are likely to have higher risk for certain chronic or serious health conditions, such as diabetes. Having guaranteed health coverage, like what is offered through Medicare, is essential to Latinos going forward. 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. Here are some things people need to know before enrolling: Review your plan notice. Any ...
New research has shown that the long-existing digital divide, the gap between Latino Internet users and whites, is at its narrowest point since 2009. Immigrant and Spanish-speaking Latinos made big strides in going online, according to Pew Research Center’s 2015 National Survey of Latinos. While Latinos still lag behind on broadband access and usage – the survey showed little change from 2010 to 2015 – the new data is encouraging. Latinos have long been ahead of the curve in accessing the Internet via smartphones and other mobile devices. In terms of access, Latinos are the most likely racial/ethnic group to own a smartphone, live in a household without a landline telephone, live in a household with only one cellphone, and have access to the Internet via a mobile device. In ...
Childhood obesity is one of the leading health concerns plaguing the Latino community. New research shows from several federal agencies show that obesity among toddlers from low-income families is declining. New research from several federal agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reports. However, despite the decline, the prevalence of obesity for low-income toddlers is 14.5%. This number far exceeds the national average. “Continued initiatives to work with parents and other stakeholders to promote healthy pregnancies, breastfeeding, quality nutrition, and physical activity for young children in multiple settings are needed to ensure healthy child development,” according to the authors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department ...
Historically, people of color – including Latinos, have been more likely to live in high-poverty neighborhoods than whites of similar economic means. This is especially true in large, urban cities despite the recent report on the decline of poverty numbers in the U.S., Ars Technica reports. Latinos living in high-poverty neighborhoods generally have limited access to quality education, healthcare, adequate physical activity, and professional opportunities. A study recently published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, PNAS, compared census data from 1980 to 2010 to compare the decline of neighborhood segregation and racially linked poverty. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and ...
Many people are aware of the effects that diabetes can take on your body. However, what can just having high-blood sugar do to you? Latino adults are almost twice as likely as non-Hispanic white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes by a physician. In 2010, Latinos were three times more likely to start treatment for end-stage renal disease related to diabetes and Latinas were 1.5 times as likely to die from it compared to whites. Glucose, or sugar, is the fuel that helps power cells through your body. Levels of it rise and fall in your blood depending on what you eat. However, when cells don’t absorb the glucose, the results can include damage to nerves, blood vessels, and organs. “If you keep glucose levels near normal, you reduce the risk of diabetes complications,” Dr. ...
According to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a report from the JAMA Internal Medicine journal, more than 75% of all American adults today are either overweight or obese. For the first time in history, the number of obese people has surpassed that of the overweight, Wallethub reports. Wallethub studied new data published by the Physical Activity Council to compare the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., to determine which were the unhealthiest. Focusing on 17 indicators of weight-related health problems, including the percentage of adults that were overweight or obese and sugary-beverage consumption by adults. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and policies. Join our site, ...
Currently, more than 75% of all American adults today are classified as either overweight or obese. According to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a report from the JAMA Internal Medicine journal, for the first time in history, the number of obese people has surpassed that of the overweight, Wallethub reports. Wallethub studied new data published by the Physical Activity Council to compare the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., to determine which were the unhealthiest. Focusing on 17 indicators of weight-related health problems, including the percentage of adults that were overweight or obese and sugary-beverage consumption by adults. In 2015, about 81.6 million Americans were completely inactive. Factors such as genetics, emotional ...
