The State of Tobacco and Vaping Use among Latinos


Doctor snapping cigarette in half.

Use of tobacco is one of the biggest modifiable risk factors for major and chronic diseases.  The prolonged use or overuse of tobacco and nicotine continues to wreak havoc on populations, especially disadvantaged populations such as Latinos, putting them at higher risk for these diseases.   The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released its annual report on the state of mental health and substance use in the US.   Based on results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States covers mental health and substance use, including tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, and more.  In part one of our series, we’re going to explore the report and find out how using tobacco and nicotine ...

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4 Great Breastfeeding Resources for National Breastfeeding Month!



August is National Breastfeeding Month, a time to celebrate and support breastfeeding families, highlight the benefits of breastfeeding, and provide resources and help to mothers. Why is this important? Research shows that breastfed babies have lower risks of asthma, childhood leukemia, childhood obesity, ear infections, and more. Mothers who breastfeed also have lower risk of type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, and certain types of breast cancer. “Breastfeeding has many health benefits for infants, children, and mothers and is a key strategy to improve public health,” according to the CDC. Let’s explore tools and resources that can help mothers and families with breastfeeding. 1. U.S. Breastfeeding Committee Many mothers, especially Latinas, face many barriers to ...

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Study: Doctors More Likely to Use Negative Language When Referring to Latinos


Patient Latin woman meeting Caucasian doctor at hospital

Racism and discrimination are among Latinos’ biggest barriers to healthcare.   Driven by years of social, structural, and institutionalized racism, Latinos and other people of color face inequities in care and mistrust of the healthcare system.  This prompts reluctance to receive life-saving care or health screenings. Putting off care can result in a delayed diagnosis and prolonged and more expensive medical treatment for chronic diseases, such as cancer, leading to worse health outcomes.   But how widespread is discrimination in healthcare?  Doctors are more likely to use negative language when referencing Black and Latino patients in medical records, according to a new study in JMIR Medical Informatics.   Let’s unpack the study and the meaning behind the results. ...

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Webinar: How to Fight El Asesino Silencioso



High blood pressure is a silent killer (el asesino silencioso in Spanish) that can spur heart disease and stroke among Latinos. We addressed heart health at UT Health San Antonio’s webinar, “How to Fight El Asesino Silencioso,” at 11 a.m. Central on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in advance of Hispanic Heritage Month. This webinar featured experts from UT Health San Antonio, the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), and Genentech to share resources and culturally relevant tools that Latino families and healthcare workers can use to help prevent, treat, and manage high blood pressure, also called hypertension. This is a part of a webinar series, “Let’s Address Health Equity Together.” The series is a collaboration of the Salud America! program at the Institute for ...

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Watch Our Award-Winning Bilingual Video on Clinical Trials!



Our collaborative bilingual video — Why Hispanic Representation Matters — was a "Silver Winner" at both the 2024 W³ Awards and the 45th Annual Telly Awards! The video, created by Genentech with help from the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, the team behind Salud America!, shows why Latino participation in clinical trials is important for the future of clinical research. Clinical trials are studies with volunteers that can help researchers learn how to slow, manage, and treat different cancer and disease. “This massive underrepresentation of Latinos in clinical trials makes it hard for researchers to develop new treatments for this group, which suffers a heavy burden of cancer,” said Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud America! and the ...

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Get Moving Toward a Healthier You!


Family walking in the park

Physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for many diseases, including cancer, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).   Physical inactivity has a 25.3% prevalence in the US, where about 60% of adults say they are physically inactive as of 2020, according to the CDC.  That’s why the CDC launched a campaign to get people moving.  Active People, Healthy Nation is striving to help 27 million Americans be more physically active by 2027 and getting 10 million adults and 2 million young people to meet the minimum aerobic physical activity guideline.  Salud America! is stepping up to help by partnering with the initiative's Moving Matters campaign to get the word out.  Let’s dig into some of the short-term and long-term benefits of regular physical ...

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Prioritize Your Children’s Eye Health as the School Year Begins


Decision, glasses and girl with her mother at the optometrist for vision and check on eyes together. Customer, medical and child shopping for eyeglasses with her mom at the ophthalmologist clinic

School supplies, news clothes, and annual check-ups at the doctor are just a few things on a parent’s checklist for the start of a new school year. But don’t let one major part of a child’s health slip out of sight. Vision and eye health! Advocating for Children’s Eye Health Uncorrected vision problems can hinder child development, interfere with learning, and even lead to permanent vision loss. That is why Prevent Blindness Texas, an eye health and safety organization, is working to prevent blindness and preserve sight among children and adults by providing support and resources related eye health at all ages. “Early detection and treatment of eye problems are critical,” according to organization. To promote early detection of eye issues among children, ...

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What New Immigration and Education Policies Mean for Latino Families


Young hispanic student smiling happy wearing a backpack at the university.

Latinos have endured generations of systemic inequities due to racism and discrimination.  Over the years, institutions, structures, and policies have given rise to gaps in housing, income, education, and more, which lead to higher risk for diseases like cancer.  Even though these disparities persist, policymakers are pushing for change.   On July 17, 2024, the Biden White House announced several new policies to expand opportunities for Latino communities, including increasing access to higher education.  Let’s investigate some of these policies and how they endeavor to help Latinos.  Increasing Educational and Economic Gains Through Hispanic-Serving Institutions  More than 500 Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) that span across 27 states, the District of Columbia, ...

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Quick Test Could Improve Dementia Care Disparities



Signs of cognitive impairment and early dementia among Latinos and other people of color are often missed by healthcare providers in busy primary care settings. Now, a new test could help improve cognitive care for these patients. Recently, Dr. Joe Verghese and researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine created a culturally unbiased cognitive assessment tool called 5-Cog. The 5-Cog, which takes five minutes to complete, could help identify cognitive concerns and open avenues for diagnosis and treatment for dementia, according to a news release from the National Institute of Health (NIH). Let’s explore the new test and how it could benefit Latinos with dementia. How Does the 5-Cog Work? The 5-Cog test is for older adults who have concerns about their cognitive ...

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