Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and related grains. It gives dough its stretch and helps baked goods rise. Many common foods contain gluten, including bread, beer, pasta, and cereal. So, why is “gluten-free” become so popular these days? For millions of people, gluten is a medical issue. Celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and wheat allergies require strict gluten-free diets. “When people with celiac disease eat gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley), their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine,” according to the Celiac Disease Foundation. In addition, gluten sensitivity causes symptoms when gluten is eaten. However, it doesn’t cause the antibodies and intestinal damage seen in celiac disease. Additionally, ...
Since their introduction in the early 1900s, vaccines have helped eradicate diseases. For this reason, vaccines play a pivotal role in public health, especially for children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. However, with the invention of the internet and social media, incorrect information is quickly spread and disseminated, sowing seeds of mistrust in vaccine recommendations. This leads to questions over vaccine research, production, and administration. What's more, the widespread misinformation about vaccines has caused outbreaks of previously eradicated diseases such as measles, making vaccine uncertainty a serious threat to public health. In fact, in a recent survey conducted by KFF in collaboration with the Washington Post, 1 in 6 US parents have ...
To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, the Prevent Cancer Foundation hosted an Instagram Live on prevention and cancer screening featuring Dr. Derek Rodriguez of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. On behalf of the Salud America! program, Dr. Rodriguez chatted with Kyra Meister, Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Senior Communications Manager, about the importance of preventative measures like screening and cancer survivorship. Watch on Instagram Live as the two talk about preventative health measures to better understand and detect cancer, health gaps that impact care, and cancer survivorship. Watch Now! WHAT: An Instagram live video focusing on cancer screening and survivorship WHERE: Available on the Instagram accounts of the Prevent Cancer ...
There’s a lot of good that’s come out of the digital age, including telehealth, which allows physicians to meet with their patients from a distance. However, the digital age can also pose health risks, especially for young children. Excessive screen time in children is linked to a higher risk for heart-related complications, including heart disease, according to a new study by the American Heart Association. Let’s go over the study’s key findings and find ways to determine what’s a healthy amount of screen time for your loved ones.
Key Study Findings: Screen Time and Heart Disease Risk
The study examined excessive screen use using data from a group of 10-year-olds in 2010 and a group of 18-year-olds in 2000, according to the study news release. To ...
Latinos continue to be a growing population in the US. However, at 19.5% of the population, Latinos only comprise 6% of all physicians, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Fewer Latino physicians to meet the growing population can lead to worse health outcomes for Latinos, who rely on physicians that look and sound like them to build trusting patient-doctor relationships. To shine a light on this issue, National Latino Physician Day occurs every Oct. 1 during Hispanic Heritage Month to honor Latino physicians and share the need for more. Let’s go over how National Latino Physician Day came to be and why Latino physicians are integral for closing the gap on health differences for Latinos and all people.
How Did National Latino ...
Families are often busy with work, school, extra-curricular activities, and everyday life. With this in mind, it’s important for families to come together and spend time with one another. One way many families do this is after a long day of work and school is gathering at the dinner table and enjoying a meal together. In fact, the National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families (NRCHCF) highlights research that finds that half of all Hispanic children eat at least one meal a day with their family, which has many health, emotional, and academic benefits. Additionally, 63% of preschool-aged children (birth to age 5) are the most likely to have daily family meals, while teenagers are the least likely. Let’s dig deeper into this research and why it’s important ...
Cancer death rates have dropped 34% over the past three decades, saving the lives of more than 4.5 million people. And it’s all thanks to cancer research. Research is the foundation of critical public health efforts, including prevention, screenings, and advancements in cancer treatment, according to the latest progress report on cancer from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Every year the AACR puts out its progress report to discuss the latest achievements in research while keeping a watchful eye on the future, including the need for ongoing scientific research to one day eradicate cancer. Here are 7 key takeaways from the report and how it will impact the future of cancer research.
1. The Number of Survivors is Projected to Rise
Between ...
Easy-to-use, informative, bilingual tools on infection control practices in the healthcare setting are essential for all healthcare workers. With this in mind, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched Project Firstline, a training and education collaborative that ensures all healthcare workers, no matter their role or educational background, have the infection control knowledge and understanding they need and deserve to protect themselves, patients, and coworkers. As part of Project Firstline, Salud America! and the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) are bringing you a Salud Talks Podcast series to explore infection control in healthcare. Episode 45 of the Salud Talks Podcast covers the need to bring infection control education to medical ...
Smoking cigarettes is the top cause of preventable death in the United States. The good news is that help is out there—just ask Katherine Saucedo. Saucedo, a San Antonio resident, got help quitting smoking from the no-cost Quitxt bilingual text-message service from UT Health San Antonio. Quitxt, created by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez and Dr. Patricia Chalela at UT Health SanAntonio with the support of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, sends texts messages to help South Texas adults quit smoking. Messages help with motivation to quit, setting a quit date, handling stress, using nicotine replacement (if needed), and more. Saucedo has been smoke-free for the past three months using Quitxt. “Huge improvements, just better lung capacity. I don't feel short of ...
