Flu Season Is Not Over



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 ...

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Infographic: Food and Mental Health



SaludToday Guest Blogger Brietta Mengel While it’s common knowledge that certain foods influence your weight, it’s not as widely known that food can also affect your mental health. Here we take a look at what foods can make mental illness worse, and which can help promote a healthy mind. More than 16% of Latinos experienced a mental illness in the previous year. Depression is the No. 1 cause of disability in the world, and $193 billion is the cost of mental illness in lost earnings per year. More than half of people with mental illness do not even seek help, especially Latinos. Foods that work for your health include: fatty fish, such as salmon, sardines, mackerel and herring are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which can boost dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain. ...

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Cancer, the Leading Cause of Death Among Latinos



In 2015 cancer was the leading cause of death among Latinos in the United States, Latina Lista reports. Last year, Latinos experienced 125,900 new cases of cancer and more than 30,000 deaths from cancer. According to experts most cancer related deaths among Latinos are caused by lung tumors in men and breast malignancies in women. “Death rates are declining for both heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. overall, and cancer, the second leading cause,” Rebecca Siegel, a researcher at the American Cancer Society, said. “Cancer has already surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death in Hispanics because of their young age structure.” Although Latinos have lower incidence of prostate and breast cancer than whites, they are more likely to be diagnosed ...

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Dental ER Visits Have Doubled; Dental Benefits Go Unused



SaludToday Guest Blogger Jefferson Dental Clinics Dental ER visits have doubled since 2000. An analysis of federal data by the American Dental Association reported a total of 2.2 million dental health-related emergency room visits. That’s one visit every fifteen seconds. Latinos have the lowest dental utilization rate, putting them at a higher risk for developing abscess or infections that may require hospitalization. In fact, patients with private insurance plans are among the highest group to visit the emergency room for a dental abscess, reports a study conducted by the Journal of Endodontics. Uninsured patients report the lowest rates of hospitalization for the same condition. Emergency dental visits can cost more than three times the price of an average dental ...

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Study: E-Cigs Linked to Dangerous Lung Disease



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 ...

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Study: The Effects of Discrimination on Latino Youth



Latino immigrant youth who have been discriminated tend to suffer more from depression and low self-esteem, Latina Lista reports. A study conducted by the University of Missouri followed “302 immigrant youth, ages 13 to 17, who had lived in the United States for five years or less, three questionnaires over the course of a year. The surveys asked about their experiences with discrimination, their mental health, and whether they volunteered or helped others.” The study concluded that immigrant youth who have been exposed to discrimination had higher symptoms of depression and felt negative about their surroundings and helping others. “This study showed unlike previous studies that there may be a cyclical process such that discrimination is related to both depressive symptoms ...

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Online Resource for Latino Health Care Consumers



In California, Spanish speaking Latinos who have been denied health coverage, experience delays or are dissatisfied with the decisions made by their health plan will now have a place to send their complaints and get help using the Spanish version of MyPatientRights.org created by the California Chronic Care Coalition (CCCC). "MyPatientRights.org is a beacon of light in a stormy health care sea, particularly for patients with a chronic condition," said Liz Helms, president and CEO of the CCCC. "With the future of the nation's health closely linked to the well-being of the Hispanic and Latino communities, it is imperative they access quality, affordable health care and navigate the complaint system when they are not able to access the specialists or medicines they need. As more ...

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#SaludTues Tweetchat 1p ET 12/15/15: “Redefining Physical Activity for Health: Evidence & Anecdote”



Research over the past two decades has shown numerous health benefits associated with moderate intensity physical activity, which is why the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) developed the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (PAG), recommending 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week for adults and 60 minutes of moderate physical activity per day for kids, to include muscle-strengthening activities, for important health benefits and even more physical activity for greater health benefits. However, there were many mixed messages along the way. An important distinction is between physical activity for health and exercise for fitness or weight loss. The role of physical activity in health promotion and disease prevention has evolved drastically ...

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The Health and Financial Benefits of Giving Up Alcohol



Alcohol consumption among Latinos is lower than in non-Hispanic whites, according to the National Institutes of Health. But, Latinos who drink are more likely to consume higher volumes of alcohol than non-Hispanic Whites. According to doctors taking a break from alcohol or giving up alcohol consumption completely can be tough, but the advantages to your health and pocket are worth the effort. Here’s what you can expect to happen long-term and short-term if you take a break from alcoholic beverages, according to Prevention: Risk for cancer falls: Drinking alcohol has been linked to an increase risk of liver, colon, mouth and rectum cancer. “The risk increases the more you drink.” More money in your pocket: A night at the bar can be detrimental for your health, but ...

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