Did you know 11% of U.S. Latino kids face adverse childhood experiences? These traumatic events include sexual or physical abuse, domestic violence, poverty and the sudden loss of a parent. A new infographic by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) shows the devastating effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on children and its impact on their adult lives. These experiences may cause them to develop negative behaviors and puts them at risk of: Drug and alcohol dependency
Smoking
Cancer
Strokes
STDs
Diabetes
Heart Disease RWJF is part of a growing network of leaders in research, policy and practice who are working to prevent ACEs and mitigate their impact through building resilience. Learn more ...
Latinos are more likely to gain weight in childhood, studies show. Thus it is critical to start early in teaching children and families to eat healthy and be physically active, according to a new editorial by Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, chief medical officer for prevention at the American Heart Association. The editorial cites statistics on the unfortunate rise of Latino childhood obesity, including research by Salud America!, a research network funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and directed by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. Sanchez suggests four ways to help reverse the trend: Eat healthier. Teach children and their families how to cook our traditional recipes in the healthiest way. Get ...
Did you know Latina moms are twice as likely as white moms to start prenatal care late or not all all? This increases the risk of having a baby with serious health problems. The good news is that using life planning tools, managing health conditions and avoiding certain exposures can improve differences in Latinas' prenatal and child health, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services’ Someday Starts Now campaign in English and Spanish. Here are six tips: 1. Health Before Pregnancy. A healthy life depends on a combination of eating right and exercising—in addition to managing chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes and stress, as well as quitting unhealthy behaviors like smoking. 2. Get Tested for STIs. Get checked regularly for Sexually Transmitted ...
Hot flashes and menopausal symptoms last up to 14 years—longer than the seven years that had been thought—and Hispanic and black women experience hot flashes for a considerably longer time than white women, according to a new study, Utah People's Post reports. The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggests 80% of women experience hot flashes. Hot flashes, which come and go irregularly through the day, are very unpleasant, making the body produce more sweat and flushing the face. They have been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular problems. The earlier these menopausal symptoms appear, the longer they're likely to persist, according to the new study. The average duration was 7.4 years. Longer duration (Hispanics at 8.9 years and Blacks at 10.1 years) was ...
A bill introduced last legislative session in New York that would have placed a warning label on sugary drinks may have fallen short, but another legislator is giving it second shot in 2015. New York Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has introduced the “Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Safety Warning Act,” a bill that would require warning labels on all sugary drinks, like soda, iced tea and energy drinks.The labels would read: “SAFETY WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.” Dinowitz cites the success of tabacco-style warning labels as one reason his bill is winner. “This is not a ban. It’s a warning label. I believe warning labels contributed to the decrease in smoking,” he said in an article in the New York ...
Preconception can set up a baby for optimal health. This is especially true for Latinos, who have higher rates of premature birth in the nation than whites. That's why the Someday Starts Now campaign, from the Texas Department of State Health Services, has five health tips for would-be parents—before a baby is on the way—so that if/when baby comes, he or she will have the right start: Get at least 60 minutes of exercise daily. Exercise helps reduce stress, strengthen the heart and improve sleep patterns. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it part of your daily routine. For example, sign up for a group yoga class (many community centers offer free ones), hit the bike trails with friends or or just go on a daily neighborhood walk. Eat better meals. Instead of taking on ...
What's one of the world's leading cause of blindness? Glaucoma—and it's far more prevalent in Latinos and blacks. Glaucoma, a gradual eye disease that causes damage to the optic nerve, has few symptoms. Peripheral or side vision begins to worsen without patients realizing it, which enables the disease to progress into later stages, according to the Mount Sinai Health System. How can you prevent it (and keep your eyes healthy)? According to the National Eye Institute (NEI): Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect diseases like glaucoma in their early stages.
Know your family's eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with a disease or condition since many are hereditary.
Eat right to ...
What is health equity? The answer to this question, which has strong implications for Latino and other minority populations, is part of a new series of infographics from the Health Equity Institute at San Francisco State University. Infographic 1 defines health equity as "efforts to ensure that all people have full and equal access to opportunities that enable them to lead healthy lives" and identifies a framework to show how social, economic, and environmental conditions affect health and health equity in a number of ways. To achieve health equity, we must treat everyone equally and eliminate avoidable health inequities and health disparities. Health inequities (Infographic 2) are health differences "that are avoidable, unfair, and unjust." Health disparities (Infographic ...
1 in 9 American babies are born too soon. Premature birth rates are especially high in U.S. Hispanics (11.3%) and African Americans (16.3%) than in Whites (10.2%), due to issues of stress, health care access, and more. These babies and families struggle with extended NICU stays, ongoing costs and time away from work, and potentially lifelong disabilities. That why the bilingual "Someday Starts Now" campaign is here. The campaign, run in English and Spanish by the Texas Department of State Health Services and coinciding with Prematurity Awareness Month in November, promotes the idea that a healthy, full-term baby begins with healthy, well-informed parents who are active participants in their health care. Here are five tips for women thinking about having a baby to ensure ...
