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Pramod Sukumaran

Sukumaran completed a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology and an MPH in Population Health Analytics. He curates content for Salud America! on family support and health projects at the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at UT Health San Antonio. His emphases is on the latest research, reports and resources related to various disease and policies, to improve Latino health.

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Articles by Pramod Sukumaran

The Truth about Smoking and Your Risk of Coronavirus


The Truth about Smoking and Your Risk of Coronavirus cigarettes coughing

Three recent European studies are making bold claims and generating sensational media headlines—like "Smokers seem less likely than non-smokers to fall ill with covid-19." But does the science support these studies? No, according to many health experts. “The results of a small study with significant flaws are being blown out of proportion and people’s lives are potentially being put at risk as a result,” said Dr. Anna B. Gilmore, professor of public health at the University of Bath. WHO even issued a statement on May 11, 2020. They urge researchers, scientists and the media to be cautious about "amplifying unproven claims that tobacco or nicotine could reduce the risk of COVID-19." "There is currently insufficient information to confirm any link between tobacco or ...

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Coronavirus Complicates Homelessness, Which Could Rise 45%


homeless coronavirus mask wearing street homelessness poverty

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on homelessness. People who experience homelessness are transient. That makes it harder to detect, track, and prevent disease transmission, and treat those who need care. Now some experts say rising unemployment could spark a 45% rise in homelessness by the end of 2020, leaving 800,000 people with no permanent shelter in the U.S., the L.A. Times reports. "If the projections of unemployment being made now turn out to be accurate, and the relationship between unemployment and homelessness follows the historical pattern, and no other major changes occur, that’s what we can expect to happen," said economist Dr. Brendan O’Flaherty of Columbia University. Concerns for the Homeless amid Coronavirus People experiencing ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 5/12: How COVID-19 Impacts Homelessness



The COVID-19 pandemic continues to sicken people and worsen health inequities in income, housing, food, and more. The homeless and housing-unstable are at particular risk. Let’s use #SaludTues on May 12, 2020, to tweetchat about how the coronavirus is affecting homelessness and what we can do about it! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “How COVID-19 Impacts Homelessness” TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. EST Tuesday, May, 12, 2020 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS:  Public Health Maps (@PublicHealthMap) and Enterprise (EnterpriseNow) OPTIONAL HASHTAGS: #COVID19 We’ll open the floor to research, your experiences, stories, and best practices as we explore: How is the coronavirus outbreak affecting homelessness? How big is the ...

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Obesity May Lead to Severe Coronavirus Disease, Among Younger Patients


obesity rates as latino man walks away

While the elderly are highly susceptible to the coronavirus COVID-19, young adults aren't off the hook, either. Almost 40% of U.S. coronavirus patients who were sick enough to need hospitalization were between the ages of 20 to 54, according to recent CDC data. "There seems to be this ethos that the virus is no big deal for young people," said Dr. Mark Pasternack, chief of the pediatric infectious disease unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, told the Newbury Press. "But it is a big deal because some young people are getting very sick and because they are also very serious vectors of disease spread." Why Obesity and Coronavirus Outbreak is a Concern for Young People in the U.S.? Obesity may be one of the most important predictors of severe coronavirus illness among ...

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Coronavirus Poses Added Risk For Adults With Alzheimer’s Disease


Latino man elderly lack of sleep tired alzheimer's

Recent data suggests that older adults are the most vulnerable to the worst effects of the coronavirus outbreak. Older people and people with severe chronic conditions—such as dementia—should take special precautions because they are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 illness, according to the CDC. Worse, it is not just how many years one has lived that determines risk. "It is not chronological age alone that determines how one does in the face of a life-threatening infection such as COVID-19," George Kuchel, a geriatrician and gerontologist at the University of Connecticut, told STAT. "Having multiple chronic diseases and frailty is in many ways as or more important than chronological age. An 80-year-old who is otherwise healthy and not frail might be more ...

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COVID19 Outbreak: Important Steps that will Protect Your Lungs


hispanic doctor patient hospital coronavirus covid-19

The current novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is a respiratory illness — that means it harms the lungs more than other parts of the body. Many scientists say that COVID-19 feature pneumonia and affects the lung function, and is especially worrisome for those with weak lung or immune systems. Worse, many experts believe that if you smoke, or you're regularly around secondhand smoke, you may have a better chance of getting coronavirus. Smoking may also increase your risk of developing severe complications from the virus. "The lining of the respiratory tree becomes injured, causing inflammation," Dr. John Wilson, president-elect of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and a respiratory physician, told The Guardian. "This, in turn, irritates the nerves in the lining of the ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 4/14: How Coronavirus Is Affecting the Housing Crisis


latino man in home housing apartment looking out window amid coronavirus pandemic

The coronavirus outbreak (COVID19) has sickened many and continues to spread around the world. The pandemic is affecting health equity in many ways, including homelessness, evictions, and affordable housing options. Let’s use #SaludTues on April 14, 2020, to tweetchat about the Coronavirus is affecting housing crisis! WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “How Coronavirus Is Affecting the Housing Crisis!” TIME/DATE: 1-2 p.m. EST Tuesday, April, 14, 2020 WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues HOST: @SaludAmerica CO-HOSTS:  Public Health Maps (@PublicHealthMap), Communicate for Health Justice (@_CFHJ), and the Center for Care Innovations (@CCIVoice) OPTIONAL HASHTAGS: #COVID19 We’ll open the floor to research, your experiences, stories, and best practices ...

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What Coronavirus Means for You, If You Have Heart Disease


senior Latino man suffering from bad pain in his chest cardiac arrest CPR heart coronavirus

Experts say people who have underlying health conditions should guard against COVID-19. In fact, CDC now says that U.S. adults with diabetes, chronic lung disease, and heart disease are at higher risk for severe COVID-19-associated disease than people without these conditions. Latinos face a heavier burden for several of these conditions. The American Heart Association even warned elderly people with heart disease or hypertension. "Based on current information, it appears elderly people with coronary heart disease or hypertension are more likely to be infected and to develop more severe symptoms," according to AHA. "Stroke survivors may also face increased risk for complications if they get COVID-19" According to the latest report from  State Department of Health, out of the ...

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Coronavirus and its Impacts on the Affordable Housing Crisis



The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting health equity in many ways, including homelessness, evictions, and affordable housing options. Low-income workers, the uninsured, those with unstable housing, and immigrant communities will bear the brunt of this crisis. Many U.S. cities were dealing with a homelessness crisis long before this outbreak. Now, the escalating pandemic has created a catastrophe threatening thousands of lives. Affordable Housing Crisis during COVID-19 Millions of Americans face housing cost burdens. Over half a million sleep on the streets any given night, according to a recent report. Worse, countless people and families pay more than they can afford to keep a roof over their heads every month. The coronavirus outbreak is a public health emergency that will ...

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