Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, was recently named a "Champion of Change” by the President Barack Obama's White House for her contributions to ending suffering from breast cancer. Now Dr. Ramirez has written a blog post for the White House. The inspirational post, "Giving Latinas a Chance Against Breast Cancer," highlights Latinas' cancer issues and discusses ways to overcome barriers:
Prevention is the key, and timely screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care are critical if Latinas are to survive cancer and sustain a good quality of life.
That’s why my Institute for Health Promotion Research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San ...
One in four American adults (55.1 million) was treated in 2008 for hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Fewer Hispanics were treated for hypertension (15%) than blacks (29%) or whites (25%). However, Hispanic patients' treatments costs were higher ($1,272) than for black patients ($1,037), patients of other races ($1,211), and white patients ($748). Total expenses were $47.3 billion, with $21.3 billion spent on prescription medicines; $13 billion spent on doctors’ office and outpatient visits; and another $13 billion spent for hospitalizations, emergency department visits and home health care. The data in this AHRQ News and Numbers summary are taken from the ...
In a telephone survey, Latinos were found to be less likely than whites to get screened for colon cancer, and much less likely when both groups had a family history of the disease, Reuters reports. However, the study results did not show an ethnic difference in which women had recently been screened for breast cancer, whether or not it was in their families. According to the news report:
Researchers didn't know why each person in the study had or hadn't gotten screened. But they proposed a few reasons why Latinos might not get their regular colon cancer check-ups, including communication problems with doctors and fear and anxiety about being screened.
"It seems very plausible that this is not happening for Latinos because of access barriers and language barriers," said Heather Orom, who ...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched MiPlato.gov, the Spanish-language version of ChooseMyPlate.gov, that serves as a reminder to help Latino consumers make healthier food choices. MyPlate and MiPlato emphasize the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins and dairy, and are supported by consumer messages, such as "Make Half Your Plate Fruits and Vegetables." "USDA's new MyPlate food icon is a simple reminder to help Americans think about their food choices in order to lead healthier lifestyles and today we are proud to introduce its Spanish-language partner, MiPlato, to help Hispanic consumers at mealtime," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Regardless of our primary language, it is important that we all learn about and embrace healthy eating habits ...
Editor's Note: This story appears in the latest E-newsletter of Salud America!, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) network to prevent obesity among Latino kids, directed by the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. Laura Kettel Khan rarely stepped foot outside Arizona as a child. She raised horses and enjoyed church-based activities there. Her family didn’t travel much. She even went to study at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Her life changed when she joined the Peace Corps in the 1980s. Kettel Khan—despite not knowing Spanish at the time—was assigned to nutrition issues in Latin America. She found herself in a 300-person Honduran village, helping raise animals and building chicken coops at the village ...
Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, the team behind Salud America!, is among a handful of people named "Champions of Change" by the Obama White House for their contributions to ending suffering from breast cancer, the leading cancer diagnosed in women today. Each week the White House highlights "Champions" who are making an impact in their communities and helping to meet the challenges of the 21st century. “I am honored to be named a ‘Champion of Change.’ I hope it puts a spotlight on breast cancer, the No. 1 cancer killer of Latinas,” Dr. Ramirez said. “We must conduct research to discover new and efficient methods to help Latinas overcome critical barriers to breast cancer ...
On October 2, thousands of people will wear yellow to support LIVESTRONG and the fight against cancer. According to the LIVESTRONG blog: "LIVESTRONG is about people. We are about the 28 million right now fighting cancer. We are about their family members, their friends, their co-workers and classmates. If there is one thing we know for sure it is that we all have a story to share and the more we share the stronger our community." LIVESTRONG invites you to share your cancer story here and wear yellow in honor of LIVESTRONG ...
How can... Latino families overcome barriers to healthy eating? (Page 1)
"Walking school buses" keep Latino kids fit? (Page 3)
Health coaching improve Latino child and family health? (Page 4) Find answers in the new Salud America! E-newsletter. Also find out the latest in Latino childhood obesity policy, news and updates on Salud America!, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) network to prevent obesity among Latino kids. The network is directed by the Institute for Health Promotion Research at The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, which developed SaludToday. Visit Salud America! here. To sign up to receive Salud America! E-newsletters, go ...
Check out two new Spanish versions of helpful materials from the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, available thanks to the U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. These materials offer adaptable strategies and tools for individuals to incorporate regular physical activity into an overall healthy lifestyle. Be Active Your Way: A Guide for Adults encourages individuals to get the amount of physical activity they need, based on the Guidelines and their own goals. Be Active Your Way: A Fact Sheet for Adults is a quick overview of the types and amount of physical activity recommended in the Guidelines. Download these and others English/Spanish resources from the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans ...
