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 and other populations), 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. They 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 ...
People younger than age 50, the age at which doctors recommend screening, are being diagnosed with colon cancer, according to a new analysis, Time reports. Colorectal cancer is a common cancer. “Colon cancer has traditionally been thought of as a disease of the elderly," said study lead author Dr. Samantha Hendren, an associate professor of surgery at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The study shows 1 in 7 colon cancer patients is under 50, and “younger patients tend to be in more advanced stages of the disease. “ “This study is really a wake up call to the medical community that a relatively large number of colon cancers are occurring in people under 50,” Hendren said. Healthier diets can help, especially at a young age. Yet fast food and corner ...
This is part of our Latina Mom and Baby Health: A Research Review »
Benefits of breastfeeding
The benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby are well established in the literature, and yet breastfeeding rates in the United States remain below desired levels.38,39 According to recommendations from The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), mothers should exclusively breastfeed their infants for at least the first 6 months of life, with continuation for 1 year or longer. In addition, breastfeeding infants should not receive supplemental formula unless advised by a health care professional.39,40 As part of the Healthy People 2020 initiative, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services outlined several ...
The World Health Organization(WHO) predicts the Zika virus will spread to all countries in the Americas, including the U.S., except Canada and Chile, Reuters reports. “Twenty-one countries and territories of the Americas have reported cases of the virus since Brazil reported the first cases of local transmission in May 2015,” WHO's regional office for the Americas said in a statement. In the U.S. three cases have been confirmed in Florida, Texas and Illinois. "These imported cases might result in local human-to-mosquito-to-human spread of the virus in limited areas of the continental Unites States that have the appropriate mosquito vectors," according to a new report on the spread of the virus issued by the CDC Friday. According to doctors the symptoms of the virus ...
SaludToday Guest Blogger
Jefferson Dental Clinics Women with gum disease have up to a 36% higher risk of breast cancer, according to a recent study. That’s alarming given that 6 in 10 Latinos have gum disease (known as periodontal disease). Gum disease, which is mainly caused by poor oral health and smoking, occurs when pockets in the gums form around teeth, allowing the growth of bacteria that can cause teeth to loosen and even fall out. The connection between gum disease and cancer is profound. “Women with periodontal disease who were former smokers had a 36% higher risk of breast cancer, women who were smoking at the time of the study had a 32% higher risk of breast cancer, and non-smokers with gum disease were still at a 14% elevated risk,” said Dr. Leslie Renee ...
Recent data show communities living under the U.S. poverty line are more aware of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and vaccination rates in some of these communities is higher than in more affluent ones, The Guardian reports. However, not all patients are completing the entire vaccine series. For the article The Guardian interviewed Dr. Daisy Morales-Campos, a research instructor at the Latino Research Initiative at The University of Texas at Austin (formerly with Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio). Dr. Morales-Campos directs Entre Familia, an HPV campaign aimed at people in South Texas. There are still a lot of challenges to access, according to Morales-Campos. “People there [in Hidalgo County] often do not have the transportation ...
What does a healthy school look like? Most people would agree that a healthy school would include learning well, eating well, and having time for breaks that include physical activity. Unfortunately, many kids are losing out on recess to increase activity in schools. Studies suggest that children are less likely to meet the recommendations for daily physical activity and are more likely to engage in sedentary behaviors. So how can we ensure all kids, including Latinos, eat and play well for a healthier life? Schools are where kids spend most of their time and consume half of their daily calories. Follow #SaludTues to tweet with us on Jan. 19, 2016, as we unveil the results of a new study that explores the impacts of unhealthy foods and unhealthy school environments that ...
Schools often have physical activity facilities, but many are not open to the public. Shared use agreements—contracts between a school and a city, county, or sports league that outlines rules for sharing existing facilities—can help neighborhoods have more access to active spaces and help kids stay active and healthy, according to our new infographic on shared use agreements. The infographic is part of Salud America!’s Active Spaces and Kids research package, which tackles the latest issues on the physical activity environment and offers recommendations. Share this infographic today! Salud America! is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded national childhood obesity prevention and communication ...
The east side neighborhood of San Antonio struggles with socioeconomic hardships, health issues, and a lack of access to quality healthcare. In the past few years, the nonprofit Eastside Promise Neighborhood (EPN) has sought ways to improve conditions for residents in the city’s east side. To solve the gap in the availability of healthcare options in the area and fight health issues, the EPN partnered with a provider, CommuniCare Health Partners, to open a new health clinic in the area.
Health improvement needed in San Antonio
San Antonio’s historic east side neighborhood is home to 17,955 residents (mostly Latino), more than 200 private businesses, and six schools on 3.5 square miles bounded by Interstate 37 to the west, Fort Sam Houston to the north, AT&T Center Parkway ...
