Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2015 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for 2016. Andrew Jimenez
Ontario, Calif. Encouraged by his great-grandfather’s spurs and his father’s ever-present support, Andrew Jimenez is driven to make a difference in helping Latinos live healthier lives. He is his family’s first college and grad school student, and he works as a research assistant while he studies health promotion. He’s open to new topics and challenges because he believes in the mantra, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Andrew obtained his bachelor's degree in biology from Whittier College and is currently attending Claremont Graduate University to obtain his masters in Public Health with a ...
Over 75 percent of flavored electronic cigarettes contain diacetyl, a chemical linked to severe lung disease. Diacetyl along with two other compounds was found in most sweet tasting flavors, such as cupcake, cotton candy and fruit squirts, CBS News reports. Researchers at Harvard University looked for the presence of dyacetyl, a chemical additive that’s often added to foods such as popcorn to give them a buttery flavor. Diacetyl has been associated with a severe lung disease condition known as bronchioles obliterans more commonly known as “popcorn lung,” named after many workers at microwave popcorn factories were diagnosed with the disease.. "One of three flavoring chemicals was found in 92 percent of the e-cigarettes we sampled and these chemicals are of interest because of ...
Postmenopausal women with gum disease could be at a higher risk for breast cancer, Reuters reports. Researchers at the University of Buffalo found that middle aged and older women with gum disease who smoked cigarettes or had quit within the past 20 years had a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer, the leading cause of cancer death among Latinas. For the study, researchers analyzed data from more than 73,000 postmenopausal women who did not have breast cancer. “About one quarter said they had periodontal disease, a chronic inflammation and infection of the gum tissue around the base of the teeth. Gum disease has also been tied to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some other cancers.” After following the women for six years researchers found 2,100 women had been ...
It’s the time of the year when we’re feeling grateful for being healthy, having a loving family and a job, but do you know gratitude can also keep your heart healthy? A study led by Paul Mills, professor of family medicine and public health at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine recruited 186 men and women who suffered from heart disease “either through years of sustained high blood pressure or as a result of a heart attack or even an infection of the heart itself.” During the study Prof. Mills asked each participant to fill out a questionnaire to rate how grateful they were for the people, places or things in their lives. “We found that more gratitude in these patients was associated with better mood, better sleep, less fatigue ...
In the United States heart attacks are the main killer of men and women, especially Latinos who are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease. According to the National Institutes of Health, a heart attack occurs “when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a section of heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked and the heart can't get oxygen. If blood flow isn't restored quickly, the section of heart muscle begins to die.” Knowing the symptoms of a heart attack and getting help as soon as possible can save your life. The most common symptoms are: Chest Pain
Stomach pain
Shortness of breath
Anxiety
Lightheadedness
Sweating
Nausea and Vomiting If you experience any of these symptoms don’t wait and call ...
According to a new report by the CDC more Americans are smoking less this year compared to 2014, Latin Times reports. The CDC’s Health Interview Survey show only 15.2 % of U.S. adults smoke on a regular basis compared to 16.8% in 2014. “Latinos (10.4%) were less likely to smoke than whites (17.1%) and African Americans (18.1%), the data show.” Among young adults 18-44 the smoking rate was 17%, very similar to the rate among middle-aged adults (16.9%). Among senior citizens the rate was even lower only 7.5%. The current rates show a significant drop compared to 2009 when 20.6% of adults were regular ...
Diabetics are more susceptible to oral infections such as gingivitis and periodontitis than those that don’t suffer from diabetes, Univision Salud reports. Lower flow of saliva among diabetics causes burning sensations in the mouth skyrocketing the incidence of cavities and other infections. And those “who don’t control their sugar levels tend to have more oral health problems, particularly dental gum retractions.” Gingivitis and periodontitis are the most common oral health problems among diabetics, but more serious ones such as Thrush (candidiasis) it's also common. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) recommends: Control glucose levels in the blood
Brush your teeth and use dental floss every day
Visit your dentist ...
SaludToday Guest Blogger
Jenny Castro Un estudio realizado por el Centro para el Control y Prevención de las Enfermedades de EE.UU. (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés) develó que los hispanos nacidos en este país son casi el doble de propensos a una enfermedad del corazón y cáncer, según el Colegio Americano de Cardiología, esto se debe a que comparado con otros grupos raciales y étnicos, los hispanos están menos informados respecto a las enfermedades del corazón, ignorando que estas son de las principales causas de muerte en Estado Unidos. Por otro lado el CDC estima que los hispanos son el doble de propensos a morir de diabetes y enfermedades del hígado que los caucásicos. En relación al acceso a la salud, más del doble de los hispanos menores de 65 que no tienen ...
About 5 million U.S. Latinos smoke, and lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among Latino men and second-leading cause among Latina women, statistics show. Why is this happening—and how can Latinos quit smoking and tobacco for good? Let’s use #SaludTues on June 23, 2015, to tweet information, resources, and tips that can help Latinos both young and old kick the habit now (and kick the habit for good!): WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “How to Get More Latinos to Quit Smoking”
DATE: Tuesday, June 23, 2015
TIME: 1-2 p.m. ET (Noon-1 p.m. CT)
WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues
HOST: @SaludToday
CO-HOSTS: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (@VeteransHealth), the National Cancer Institute (@SmokefreeUS) We’ll open the floor to your stories and experiences as ...
