Study: HPV Increases Risk for Head Or Neck Cancer By At Least Sevenfold


HPV vaccine shot

A new study suggests oral human papillomavirus (HPV) increases someone’s risk for head or neck cancer, UPI reports. For the study, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York analyzed records of more than 96,000 cancer-free patients taking part in a big study. Of the more than 96,000 patients 132 developed neck or head cancer during the follow-up period, “matching them with 396 controls and analyzing their mouthwash samples for several types of oral HPVs.” “People with HPV-16 detected in their samples were 22 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer than those with no HPV-16 detected. The researchers also found that beta- and gamma-HPVs, normally found on the skin, could be linked to the development of cancer.” Doctors recommend that all ...

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Natalicio Serrano: An Èxito! Grad With A Passion to Tackle Health Issues



Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2015 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for 2016. Natalicio Serrano San Diego, Calif. Drawing inspiration from famous distance runner Steve Prefontaine, Natalicio decided to give his all in his education and his efforts to tackle the health issues he saw while growing up in a low-income food desert in San Diego. Now he works diligently to promote physical activity, travel behaviors, and obesity prevention in that same city. Natalicio obtained a Bachelors  in Health Science (Public Health)  and is working on his Masters Public Health with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences from San Diego State University. "This [Éxito!] program gave me tremendous insight into ...

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Study Links Gum Disease to Elevated Breast Cancer Risk



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)—the highest rates of this condition among all racial/ethnic groups—and Latinas are 20% more likely to die from breast cancer than non-Latinas. 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 ...

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Rafael Lopez: ACA is Working for Latinos



Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published here and written by Rafael López, Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACF), and is republished with the courtesy of HHS ACF. For many people, January is a time to make resolutions and set goals for a healthier New Year. January 2016 is an especially important month. Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace ends on January 31, 2016. Since open enrollment began on November 1, over 8.6 million people have signed up for affordable health care coverage just this year and it is estimated that about 17.6 million uninsured people have gained health insurance since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Of them, over 4 million Latinos (ages 18-64) gained health insurance, and the uninsured ...

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Infographic: Shared Use Agreements & Latino Kids



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 Latino neighborhoods have more access to active spaces and help Latino kids stay active and healthy, according to our new infographic on shared use agreements which is part of the new Salud America! Active Spaces and Latino Kids research package on the latest science and policy recommendations on the Latino physical activity environment. Share this infographic today! Salud America! is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded national Latino childhood obesity prevention network based at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, the team ...

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Infographic: Safe Streets & Latino Kids



The majority of Latino kids who live in inner city neighborhoods lack access to active spaces and safe streets where they can be physically active. Streets in Latino neighborhoods are often plagued with speeding cars and lack of sidewalks. Research shows that when communities adopt a “complete streets” policy and organize events such as “Open Street” more Latino kids and their families become physically active, according to our new infographic on safe streets which is part of the new Salud America! Active Spaces and Latino Kids research package on the latest science and policy recommendations on the Latino physical activity environment. Share this infographic today! Salud America! is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded national Latino childhood obesity ...

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Cancer Quickly Becoming the No.1 Cause of Death in the US & Among Latinos



Cancer is quickly becoming the No.1 killer in the United States and the leading cause of death among Latinos, Fox News reports. New health statistics show cancer is quickly overtaking heart disease as the top cause of death in the U.S., despite death rates falling in the last 25 years. According to government figures cancer is the “leading cause of death in certain groups of people, including Hispanics, Asians, and adults ages 40 to 79.” The American Cancer Society predicts there will be 1.7 million new cancer cases this year, and 600,000 deaths. “Government figures for 2014 show cancer was the leading cause of death in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, ...

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Jazmin Martinez: 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. Jazmin Martinez Anaheim, Calif. The strong mentorship and support of a faculty member at her university gave Jazmin Martinez the motivation to continue preparing for a career in Latino health disparities.  Jazmin's ultimate goal is to obtain a doctorate in public health and focus on health disparities. Jazmin fundamentally believes that we need more ethnic minority professors in this country.  Jasmin obtained her bachelors at California State University, double-majoring in Chicano and Latino Studies and Political Science.  She is currently working on her Masters in Public Health at CSULB.  After completing her masters, Jazmin plans to ...

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Latinos nacidos en el extranjero en mayor riesgo de enfermedades respiratorias



Las enfermedades respiratorias desproporcionalmente afectan a los latinos nacidos en el extranjero según un reciente estudio publicado el American Journal of Public Health, reporta Latin Post. Los que trabajan en las áreas de construcción, agronomía y fabricas tienen un riesgo mas alto. En la cultura mexicana, los problemas respiratorios son usualmente tratados con medicinas herbales, pero estos métodos no son efectivos a la hora de tratar problemas serios como el asma. “Limon, llantén, canela son algunas de las hierbas usulmante utilizadas para tratar problemas respiratorios en la comunidad latina. Sin embargo problemas severos no son curables es por eso que la prevención es importante para prevenir contagios. El lavarse las manos y consumir suficientes vitaminas ...

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