A study by the American Cancer Society estimated that nearly 6,000 Latino men and 5,000 Latino women could be diagnosed with colon cancer each year. Colorectal cancer is the second-most commonly diagnosed cancer for both Latino men and women. However, eating a particular “superfood” may help prevent this dreaded disease. UConn Health and The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, reported in the Cancer Prevention Research journal, found that eating walnuts may change a person’s gut bacteria in a way that suppresses colon cancer. The researchers studied mice and found that those that at 7-10% of their daily total calories as walnuts developed fewer instances of colon cancer. These findings are the equivalent of a human eating one ounce of walnuts a day. Walnuts are loaded with ...
New research, reported by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has determined that access to safe neighborhood spaces for physical activity can help families and kids maintain a healthy weight, but it is not often enough. According to a recent estimate, nearly 40% of U.S. Latino youths ages 2-19 are overweight or obese, compared with only 28.5% of non-Latino white youths. Also, the percentage of those who are overweight or obese between ages 2-5 is nearly 30% for Latino children compared with only 21% of non-Latino white children. According to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana healthcare economist Mike Bertaut, healthcare providers—and health insurers—play a critical role for families and children at high risk for obesity and/or obesity-related disease. “Obesity is the ...
Las mujeres con los genes que están relacionados con el cáncer de mama pueden reducir significativamente el riesgo de la enfermedad siguiendo un estilo de vida saludable, de acuerdo a un nuevo estudio publicado en el Journal of American Medical Association, reporta ABC news. Los factores claves de estilo de vida, los investigadores encontraron que los más importantes fueron: "El mantenimiento de un peso saludable; no fumar; limitar el alcohol; y no usar la terapia hormonal después de la menopausia.” "Las mujeres en la categoría más alta de riesgo debido a factores no modificables, las que tuvieron un índice de masa corporal bajo, no beben no fuman, y no utilizan la terapia hormonal de la menopausia su riesgo es comparable a una mujer promedio en la población general, ...
In nearly every community across the country, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is working to increase access to affordable, quality health care. For Latinos, an estimated 8 in 10 who were previously uninsured qualified for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), or lower costs on monthly premiums through the Health Insurance Marketplace. To date, over 4 million Latinos (ages 18-64) have gained health coverage, lowering the overall uninsured rate among Latinos by nearly 8%. Also, over 913,000 Latino adults 19-26, who would have previously been uninsured, now have coverage under their parents’ plans. Getting health insurance is an important first step for overall better health. Once you have your coverage, how do you make it “work” for you? The U.S. Centers for ...
U.S. Latinos have gained 2.6 years in life expectancy in the past 14 years, and live longer than whites and blacks, according to new CDC data, the Washington Post reports. Latinos have the highest life expectancy of the three groups: 81.8 years. This shows the "Hispanic paradox," in which Latinos have good longevity despite tending to have lower income, less education, less health coverage, and much higher rates of certain health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. Reasons for Latino longevity are unclear. Some experts cite Latinos' lower rates of smoking and drinking alcohol, or that they work more physically demanding jobs and are more fit. Some credit the population's younger age, compared to the white and black populations. Some say ...
Zika virus. A $73 billion debt crisis. Puerto Rico has been in the news a lot lately, but what's the truth about health in this unincorporated U.S. territory with a 99% Hispanic population? Our friends at the Kaiser Family Foundation put together a fantastic 8-part Q&A about Puerto Rico, including several health indicators. Here are some key takeaways: People are older. The percentage of adults age 65 and older rose 22% from 2006-2014. People have worse health overall. About 35% of adults in Puerto Rico report fair or poor general health, compared to 18% in the U.S. They also have higher HIV rates. More people have health insurance. Less people are uninsured in Puerto Rico (6%) than in the U.S. (12%). But almost half are covered by Medicaid due to high poverty, ...
Women with genes that are linked to breast cancer can significantly cut the risk for the disease by following a healthy lifestyle, according to a new study published in the Journal of American Medical Association, ABC News reports. The key lifestyle factors, researchers found to be the most important were: “Maintaining a healthy weight; not smoking; limiting alcohol; and not using hormone therapy after menopause.” “For women in the highest decile of risk owing to non-modifiable factors, those who had low BMI, did not drink or smoke, and did not use MHT [menopause hormone therapy] had risks comparable to an average woman in the general population,” the authors ...
Raising Women’s Voices (RWV), a national initiative working to make sure women’s voices are heard and women’s concerns are addressed as policymakers put healthcare laws into action, has finished preparation of Mi Salud, Mi Voz: Una Guía Paso a Paso Para Mujeres Sobre Cómo Usar el Seguro Médico. This guide is a Spanish translation of many popular health literacy materials. RWV Regional Field Manager Cecilia Saenz Becerra worked with three translators—Tony Macias, Jen Hofer, and Lucy Acevedo to produce the Spanish-language guide. “Working with the team of translators, we used Spanish language that was precise and accurate, while also trying to make it accessible to diverse Spanish-language readers,” she explained. Mi Salud, Mi Voz: Una Guía Paso a Paso Para Mujeres ...
Open Enrollment for health insurance as part of the Affordable Care Act through a 2106 Marketplace plan is over. However, for those who qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), you can get health insurance any time of year, with coverage starting immediately. Medicaid provides health coverage for many low-income families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Many states have expanded their Medicaid programs to cover all people below particular income levels. CHIP provides the same type of low-cost health coverage to children in families that are above the pay threshold for Medicaid. In some states, CHIP is provided to pregnant women, as well. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 95% of ...
