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Catherine Stewart

Catherine Stewart is a digital content curator for Salud America! and its home base, the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. She is a graduate of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland College Park, and hopes to utilize her skills to help people find their voices and inspire change in their communities.

Articles by Catherine Stewart

Discover the Truth about Cancer Myths with Cancer FactFinder Tool


Cancer FactFinder

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Such and such causes cancer,” more than a handful of times in your life.   Some of these claims are true. Others are myths.   False claims of using products or engaging in alleged cancer-causing behaviors can be detrimental for your health and contribute to the spread of incorrect information.   But how do you know if a claim is true?  Public health leaders created a helpful database, called Cancer FactFinder, that can help you determine if something is truly linked to cancer or if it’s simply a myth.   Let’s go over the tool, how to use it, and its many applications.   Cancer FactFinder  Cancer FactFinder is a free, evidence-based database to address the spread of incorrect information about ...

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Air Conditioning Reliability: An Overlooked Non-Medical Driver of Health


Worried woman feeling hot in the summer at home while turning on the air conditioning using the thermostat and having problems

Amid a sweltering summer heat wave, communities in the U.S. East Coast are struggling to handle the stress on energy demand in homes built to heat rather than cool.  In fact, many households across the county experience a lack of air conditioning reliability.  This often-overlooked non-medical driver of health impacts overlooked populations, lower income individuals, those who live in rural areas, and families that live in densely populated urban areas that lack shade or in older buildings with no central air.   Let’s explore how air conditioning reliability (or unreliability) can affect the health of you and your familia—and how local communities can address this inconsistency.   State of Air Conditioning Reliability  Over 35 million Americans live ...

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Summer Safety Tips to Protect Aging Adults from the Heat


Middle age woman with grey hair using handfan on a very hot day of a heat wave

Summer has officially kicked into high gear.  With many cities across the U.S. experiencing unprecedented heat, it’s important to know how your age impacts your body’s response to extreme heat conditions.   Aging adults are some of the most vulnerable populations to the harmful effects of heat.   Seniors, especially those with chronic health conditions, have a harder time cooling their bodies, sweat less, and have dulled sense of thirst. Medications can interfere with their body temperature regulation system.   Exposure to extreme heat can also cause long-term adverse health effects like increased risk for cognitive decline for aging adults.  Whether attending outdoor family gatherings or splashing in the pool with the grandkids, here is ...

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Hoja informativa: Conozca cómo el aislamiento social afecta la salud cerebral en adultos mayores


dramatic portrait of attractive sad and depressed mature woman with grey hair in pain suffering mental disorder or depression problem wearing patient gown feeling sick and abandoned

Para vivir una vida saludable, el ser humano necesita la interacción social.  ¿Pero sabía usted que la cantidad de tiempo que una persona socializa puede tener un efecto directo en la salud de su cerebro?  El aislamiento social no solo se vincula a una salud cerebral negativa, sino que los impactos también pueden empeorarse dependiendo del lugar donde viva, según un estudio reciente de UT San Antonio y Princeton University.  Consulte nuestra nueva hoja informativa, ¿Cómo afecta el aislamiento social a la salud cerebral en adultos mayores?, para ayudar a nuestros abuelos y abuelas en todo el mundo a comprender cómo mantener una vida social activa puede afectar su salud cerebral a medida que envejecen.  Esta hoja informativa fue creada por la Dra. Amelie ...

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Report: State of Inconsistencies in Latino Cancer Care


Three Women with symbol of breast cancer drawing on hand

This past year saw significant strides in cancer prevention and care, resulting in better health outcomes for all populations. However, gaps in access to care, including language hurdles, citizenship status challenges, and insurance affordability remain consistent among cancer outcomes for overlooked populations. These persistent burdens continue to negatively impact Latino survivorship. The state of non-medical drivers of health on cancer outcomes is examined in the yearly report from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Let’s dig into the 2026 progress report and look at the 9 key takeaways impacting Latinos. 1. Cervical Cancer Deaths Drop Amid Strides in Preventative Care Recently, researchers have seen a dramatic drop in cervical cancer deaths worldwide. A ...

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Study: National HPV Vaccine Program Thwarts Cervical Cancer Deaths


Shot of a young doctor applying a band-aid after injecting her patient during a consultation in the clinic

Cervical cancer continues to harm women across the globe, including Latinas, who are twice as likely to be diagnosed than other women.   The good news is that cervical cancer is highly preventable.  Along with routine screenings, the HPV vaccine can prevent or minimize the risk of getting the virus that causes cervical cancer.  In fact, a new study out of the UK has discovered that since the introduction of a national program to promote the HPV vaccine, cervical cancer deaths have dropped dramatically.  This study highlights the effectiveness of the vaccine when given at the appropriate age.   Let’s dig into the study findings and what they mean for the future of cervical cancer.  Study Findings  In Cervical cancer mortality trends ...

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Get Free Help from a Nurse to Navigate Blood Cancer Clinical Trials


Mother and daughter smiling while taking a selfie together during lunch, showing support and love during cancer recovery

Blood cancer, which includes lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma, is on the rise in the U.S., impacting 1.7 million Americans and accounting for 10% of all new cancer diagnoses in the U.S., according to Blood Cancer United.  With the rise of diagnoses, researchers are scrambling to find ways to tackle blood cancer, but they need help from volunteers for clinical trials.  Clinical trials are studies with volunteers that enable advances that can prevent, slow, manage, and treat diseases like blood cancer. But not everyone has access to clinical trials.  Language hurdles, complex medical jargon, unpredictable costs associated with participation, and lack of access to reliable transportation all keep clinical trials out of reach from those who would ...

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Fact Sheet: Learn How Social Isolation Impacts Brain Health in Aging Adults


Thinking, senior woman and picture at house for mourning loss, memory past and reminder for history. Elderly person, grief and old image with loneliness, remember partner and nostalgia for retirement

Human beings need social interaction to live a healthy life. But did you know how much you socialize can have a direct effect on your brain health? Social isolation is not only linked to negative brain health, but the impacts also can be worse depending on where you live, according to a recent study from UT San Antonio and Princeton University. Check out our new fact sheet, How Does Social Isolation Impact Brain Health in Aging Adults?, to help our abuelos and abuelas across the globe understand how maintaining an active social life can impact their brain health as they age. This fact sheet was created by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of Salud America! and UT Health San Antonio based on a research brief from the San Antonio Center for AD/ADRD Population Aging and Social Studies (San Antonio ...

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Report: 4 Million Latinos Projected to Lose Health Care Coverage Within 10 Years


Thinking, sad and senior woman in clinic, grief and depression with emotions. Thoughts, mature person and old lady with results, medical and fear of cancer with loss, healthcare and hospital

The US is on the verge of a complete health care overhaul.  These changes include Medicaid eligibility, cuts to funding, and changes making accessibility and renewal more difficult.   According to a new UnidosUS report, this overhaul is projected to cut the health care of nearly 14 million Americans with the mass majority being Latino over the next 10 years.  Unless action is taken to intervene and counteract these changes, millions are anticipated to lose health insurance, leading to unaffordable treatment and care costs and worse health outcomes.   Let’s break down the report and how these coverage changes impact the health of Latinos and all families.   Significant Health Care Coverage Changes  The report highlights two significant acts ...

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