Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both mothers and babies. For mothers, breastfeeding can help speed up the recovery process after birth, reduce long-term health risks, including breast and ovarian cancers, and help with postpartum weight loss due to the extra calories being burned. For infants, breastfeeding contains optimal nutrition for immune protection from illnesses helps with brain development, and reduces risks of chronic health conditions like obesity. Unfortunately, without access to Spanish-language lactation resources, too many Latinas give up breastfeeding too soon. That’s where the Mama Sana Program comes into play. The program offers mothers Spanish-language support to help them navigate the difficult journey that is ...
Breast cancer is a common cancer affecting US women, including Latinas. While breast cancer is very treatable, many Latinas get diagnosed at later stages when the cancer has already spread, resulting in a higher risk of death. The best way to detect breast cancer early is by getting your annual mammogram. However, many women, including Latinas, have dense breast tissue, making it harder to conduct a mammogram and detect cancer. Here are eight things you need to know about breast density and cancer.
1. Dense Breasts Occur When There is Less Fat than Tissue
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) defines dense breasts as a measure of how two types of breast tissue found in the breast compared to the amount of fat tissue. Dense breasts are categorized ...
The winter holidays are nearing, which means a drop in temperatures and a rise in flu! From October 1, 2024, through April 30, 2025, officials recorded 38,960 flu-associated hospitalizations, according to the University of Minnesota. The first week of December is recognized as National Influenza Vaccination Week, a time to promote and remind others of the importance of getting vaccinated. How does flu season impact Latinos and all people? What preventive steps can you and your family take? Find a Flu Vaccine Near You!
Latinos and Flu Rates
Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs, according to the It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. A 2021 study found that ...
Liver cancer, one of the fastest growing causes of cancer-related deaths in the US, affects many people in the South Texas area with its large Latino population. That is why researchers are working hard to improve early detection of liver cancer. Exact Sciences, the company responsible for Cologuard, a popular brand of colorectal at-home testing kits, announced new findings on its new blood test that aims to detect early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is a common form of liver cancer, according to a company news release. Let’s explore the new findings can benefit the health of Latinos and all people.
Early Liver Cancer Detection
Exact Sciences’ liver cancer blood test, Oncoguard, has been in clinical testing. The new test results show that the product ...
National Marrow Awareness Month is observed in November. This is a time to recognize transplant physicians, pioneering researchers, and selfless donors who make life-saving stem cell and bone marrow transplants possible, according to according to OriGen Biomedical. “Their combined efforts embody the true meaning of hope, healing, and humanity,” according to the company. With this in mind, let’s explore how bone marrow donations can help others, recognize donors, and educate others about marrow and stem cell donation.
What is Bone Marrow and Why is it Needed?
About 18,000 people in the U.S. with leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other serious blood disorders need a bone marrow or stem cell transplant to survive every year, according to the Columbia University Herbert ...
When the holidays season is in full swing, families and friends gather to enjoy time together over warms meals and plenty of dessert. But sometimes food spoils the party. Every year, foodborne diseases sicken 1 in 6 Americans (48 million people), hospitalize 128,000 people, and kill 3,000 people, according to the CDC. Let’s tackle how we can prepare food safely and keep the holidays healthy.
What Is Food Poisoning?
You can get sick with food poisoning after swallowing certain germs like salmonella. Common symptoms include: Diarrhea
Stomach pain or cramps
Nausea
Vomiting
Fever “Most people have mild illnesses [from food poisoning], but some infections spread by food are serious or even life-threatening. Some people may need ...
Gun violence is on the rise in the US. In fact, gun violence was declared a national public health crisis in 2024. Since 2000, gun violence has caused the deaths of more than 800,000 people and led to 2 million injuries in the US, according to a recent JAMA report. Many of these deaths have been among children and adolescents, affecting families across the country. To address this, JAMA gathered 60 leaders for a summit to create a roadmap to address the increase on firearm violence to promote fewer injuries and deaths by 2040. “The vision for 2040 is a country where firearm violence is substantially reduced and where all people and communities report feeling safe from firearm harms,” according to the roadmapreport. Let’s go over the roadmap and its ...
November is recognized as National Diabetes Awareness Month in the U.S. 29.3 million Americans have diagnosed diabetes and 9.7 million adults have undiagnosed diabetes as of 2024, according to the American Heart Association. Diabetes self-management education and support can help people with diabetes gain knowledge, skills, and personalized support. “Adults who receive [diabetes education] follow more recommended preventive care practices,” according to the CDC. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of helpful tools and resources to help people explore, manage, and prevent diabetes.
Resources from the American Diabetes Association
For National Diabetes Awareness Month, also known as American Diabetes Month, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has several ...
Heart disease is a persistent threat for many Americans, including Latinos. As of 2022, heart disease is the leading cause of death of people living in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many behaviors contribute to an increased risk for heart-related diseases, from lifestyle choices such as smoking, excessive alcohol use, physical activity, poor diet, as well as many health conditions, such as stress, obesity, and diabetes. And researchers are still learning more about these and other risks. In fact, let’s explore six recent studies on the relationship between physical behaviors and the risk of heart disease that you should be aware of.
1. Viral Infections Can Increase Risk for Heart Disease
Viral infections, such as ...