CDC Highlights Programs That Reduce Latino Health Disparities



Health disparities continue to plague Latinos, who often lag in many key health equity issues. Many organizations are taking aim to reduce these disparities. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released an update to their CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report that highlights U.S. programs that help reduce health disparities through “meaningful community and local health authority involvement” among different groups, including Latinos. “Reducing and eliminating health disparities is fundamental to building a healthier nation,” said CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden. “With science-based and effective interventions, we can close health disparity gaps in America.” Eight programs were highlighted in the CDC’s supplement; they ...

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Study: Latino Millennnials and Healthcare



A new study reveals striking data on Latino millennials and their health, The Houston Chronicle reports. The Hispanic Millennial Project revealed that U.S. born Latino millennials describe health as being happy while foreign-born describe it as not being sick. "I was surprised by that," Beatriz Mallory, vice president of SensisHealth, a Los Angeles-based national advertising agency that works with healthcare providers, drug companies and insurers told The Houston Chronicle. "We've been making the wrong assumptions all these years, which can hamper any attempt to change behavior." Among other findings Latinos “as a whole were less vigilant than non-Hispanic whites in checking calorie counts in food. They were also less likely than other ethnic groups to see processed food as a ...

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Erika Sisneros: An Èxito! Grad With a Passion to End Latino Health Disparities



Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2015 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for 2016. Erika Sisneros Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Although she grew up in Colorado, Erika Sisneros' family’s New Mexican red chili sauce reminds her of home. Having grown up in a community with great need, Erika gained a passion for finding ways to prevent teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and dating violence. Just as her grandmother, Patricia, always stood by her side during trying situations, she hopes to serve as an advocate for low-income populations. With her strong sense of faith, and desire to implement change, Erika is on her way towards having a great impact on Latino communities. Erika obtained her bachelor's in Integrative ...

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Merck Manuals Now Available in Spanish



The United States is the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world after Mexico,  yet the number of bilingual doctors has declined steadily over the last 30 years and medical information for Spanish speakers remains limited. With that in mind, Merck Manuals recently translated its trusted medical resources into Spanish. “The best medical information worldwide is documented in English as a universal language, but unfortunately, the advances in diagnosis and treatments for common medical conditions are out of reach for all the people around the world who don't speak English," said Dr. Hector Gonzalez Usigli, based in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Merck Manuals author. "Having a resource translated into their native language is highly important to help increase their ...

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Eva Rodriguez: An Èxito! Grad With a Passion for Latino Health



Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2015 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for 2016. Eva Rodriguez New York City, New York Like her lovely Mexican guanengo blouse, Eva isn’t afraid to “display” her cultural ties and her desire to help people wherever she goes. That already includes a school health program and family planning program in New York, which built up her a desire to study reproductive health, reduce stigma, and start an open dialog in the Latino community. We believe Eva has the capability of tackling Latino cancer health disparities and helping them with social services, youth development, and more. "[Éxito!] made the idea of a DrPH more plausible," said ...

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Latino Electorate is Younger and More Vibrant



A lot of political experts predict Latino voters will decide who will be the next president of the United States. In November 2016 Latino millennials (44%)  will account for nearly half of all Latino eligible voters projected for 2016, according to Pew Research Center. Data shows the median age of the 35 million U.S. born Latinos is only 19. “Latino youth will be the main driver of growth among Latino eligible voters over the next two decades. Between 2012 and 2016, about 3.2 million young U.S.-citizen Latinos will have advanced to adulthood and become eligible to vote,” Pew Research said in a written statement. According to Pew the number of eligible Latino voters has climbed from 5 percent in 1986 to 11.4 percent in ...

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3 Cancer-Fighting Foods



Cancer is the No.1 killer of U.S. Latinos, accounting for 22% of deaths. Prostate cancer (22%) and breast cancer (29%) are among the most common types of cancer afflicting Latinos. While in some instances cancers are genetically inherited in the majority of cases, they’re preventable with a good diet and plenty of exercise. Here are top cancer-fighting superfoods, according to Health: 1. Berries Berries are packed with phytonutrients, especially black berries which contain a high concentration of phytochemicals called anthocyanins “which slow down growth of premalignant cells and keep new blood vessels from forming (and potentially feeding a cancerous tumor).” 2. Walnuts Phytosrerois—cholesterol like molecules “have been shown to block estrogen receptors in ...

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Rose A. Treviño-Whitaker: An Èxito! Grad With a Passion for Cancer Research and Health Promotion



Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2015 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for 2016. Rose A. Treviño-Whitaker Houston, Texas Unpaved roads. Lack of proper sewage. Inadequate water. Rose A. Treviño-Whitaker grew up among these third-world conditions that plague some colonias—mostly Latino unincorporated settlements in South Texas. That’s why she dedicated her career to preventing disease and promoting public health as a researcher at the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR) at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. Born in the Valley of South Texas Rose is a high achiever and already up to her eyeballs in cancer research and health promotion. Rose has also helped create culturally relevant educational ...

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High Fiber Diet May Lower Breast Cancer Risk



Teenagers who eat fruits and vegetables high in fiber may significantly lower their risk of developing breast cancer (a leading cause of death among Latinas), later on in life, according to a new study, CBS News reports. Researchers at Harvard’s T.H Chen School of Public Health analyzed data from 44,000 women and concluded that those who consumed about 28 grams of fiber a day “had a significantly lower risk of breast cancer before menopause compared with those who said they ate less than 15 grams a day.” "The results of this study emphasize the role of an early life high-fiber diet on prevention of breast cancer in later life. High consumption of foods rich in fiber such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains in early life may help to reduce breast cancer incidence," lead ...

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