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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
More than a quarter of the country’s senior citizens are hungry or at nutritional risk, New America Media reports. Researchers at the Gerontological Society of America determined that two-thirds of older, hospitalized patients are poorly nourished. Malnutrition is especially challenging for individuals older than 65 as it can trigger or worsen chronic diseases. Poor nutrition may increase the chances of infection, delay normal healing and result in longer hospital stays. Malnutrition among Latino elders is a greater crisis as they tend to be among the fiscally poorer. “Malnutrition literally means ‘bad’ nutrition,” said Lauri M. Wright, a researcher and nutritionist from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “A big issue for our senior population is the lack of ...
A high-sugar diet doesn’t only increase the risk of obesity and diabetes, but it may also increase your risk of breast and lung cancer, The Houston Chronicle reports. For the study University of Texas M.D. Anderson researchers put mice in different groups and fed one of four diets. After six months the researchers concluded that mice on a starch diet “had measurable tumors, whereas 50 to 58 per cent of the mice on sucrose-enriched diets had developed mammary tumors.” The team of researchers also concluded that the risk of lung metastases was significantly higher in mice on the sucrose or fructose rich diet. "We found that sucrose intake in mice comparable to levels of Western diets led to increased tumor growth and metastasis, when compared to a non-sugar starch diet," said ...
Updated federal dietary guidelines suggest Americans should consume less sugar, fat and salt and more vegetables and whole grains, The Wall Street Journal reports. The guidelines, which are updated every five years recommend a “healthy eating pattern” with conscious decisions about what we drink and eat. “By focusing on small shifts in what we eat and drink, eating healthy becomes more manageable,” Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia M. Burwell said. The guidelines suggest Americans should consume: A variety of vegetables, including dark green, red and orange, legumes (beans and peas), starchy and other vegetables
Fruits, especially whole fruits
Grains, at least half of which are whole grains
Fat-free or low-fat dairy, including milk, yogurt, cheese, ...
Martín and Martina continue to gain popularity among Latino parents and this year they’re well situated among the top 10 Latino baby names, according to a survey by BabyCenter. For the ninth consecutive year Sofía and Santiago remained the most popular names. For girls, Lucia climbed eight spots to No. 3 and Ximena dropped from the top 10. For boys, Benjamín made an impressive comeback to the top 10 climbing to No. 8 while Daniel dropped. According to the survey, gender-neutral names are a hot trend among Latino parents, such as Max, Alex and Dani. Parents also told BabyCenter en Español that celebrities from popular TV shows like The Voice Kids also influenced their decision at the time of choosing a name that’s original and reflects Latino values. A whopping ...
Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2015 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for 2016. Monica Montaño
Downey, Calif. With a Panamanian hat-wearing grandfather who pushed his children to go to college and a mom who took her to microbiology classes as a child, it’s no surprise that education is Monica's main tool to promote health among Latinos. She has a true passion for teaching and not only wants to expose her students to health disparities, but also wants to conduct research and deliver education on cancer and disease prevention across the nation and beyond. Monica Montaño received her Bachelor of Science degrees in Community Health Education and School Health Education (2000), from California State University ...
Still waiting to get your yearly flu vaccine? If you haven’t you should get it soon—according to US Health Officials, Univision Noticias reports. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that flu activity usually peaks in January or February and can also strike as late as May. “ As long as the virus is circulating, it's not too late to receive a flu shot and protect yourself and others against this seasonal misery.” "Influenza seasons and severity are often unpredictable. Annual influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza among people 6 months of age and older," Marion Gruber, director of FDA's Office of Vaccine Research and Review, said in an agency news release. "However, taking such practical measures as washing hands, covering coughs and ...
