Latino Teens Happier, Healthier If Families Embrace Biculturalism
Science Daily
ScienceDaily (June 25, 2009) — Over the years, research has shown that Latino youth face numerous risk factors when integrating into American culture, including increased rates of alcohol and substance use and higher rates of dropping out of school.
But a new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shows adolescents who actively embrace their native culture - and whose parents become more involved in U.S. culture - stand a greater chance of avoiding these risks and developing healthier behaviors overall.
The findings are from a longitudinal study by the UNC-based Latino Acculturation and Health Project, which is supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and directed by Paul Smokowski, Ph.D., an associate professor at the UNC School of Social Work. Researchers interviewed 281 Latino youths and parents in North Carolina and Arizona, asking questions about a wide range of measures of lifestyle and mental health. Participants answered according to how much they agreed with each question (for example, from "not at all" to "very much"), resulting in scores on a scale for each measure.
"We found teens who maintain strong ties to their Latino cultures perform better academically and adjust more easily socially," Smokowski said. "When we repeated the survey a year later, for every 1-point increase in involvement in their Latino cultures, we saw a 13 percent rise in self-esteem and a 12 to 13 percent decrease in hopelessness, social problems and aggressive behavior.
"Also, the study showed parents who develop a strong bicultural perspective have teen children who are less likely to feel anxiety and face fewer social problems," he said. "For every increase in a parent's involvement in United States culture, we saw a 15 to 18 percent decrease in adolescent social problems, aggression and anxiety one year later. Parents who were more involved in U.S. culture were in a better position to proactively help their adolescents with peer relations, forming friendships and staying engaged in school. This decreases the chances of social problems arising."
"Such results suggest that Latino youth and their parents benefit from biculturalism," Smokowski said.
The findings are presented as part of a series of articles featured next month in a special issue of Springer's journal The Journal of Primary Prevention, a collaborative initiative between UNC and the CDC. The special issue presents the latest research on how cultural adaptation influences Latino youth behaviors - including involvement in violence, smoking and substance use, as well as overall emotional well-being - and offers suggestions for primary prevention programs that support minority families.
"Bicultural adolescents tend to do better in school, report higher self esteem, and experience less anxiety, depression and aggression," said study co-author Martica Bacallao, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, whose work is also featured in the special issue. "It is interesting that, in order to obtain these benefits of biculturalism, adolescents and parents often need to do the opposite of what their natural tendencies tell them. Parents who are strongly tied to their native cultures must reach out to learn skills in the new culture. Adolescents who quickly soak up new cultural behaviors should slow down and cultivate the richness in their native cultures."
Smokowski added: "The burgeoning size of the Latino population and the increasingly important roles that Latino youth will play in American culture are worthy of community attention. Communities can either invest in prevention to nurture Latino youth as a national resource or pay a heavy price later in trying to help these youth address social problems such as substance use, aggression or dropping out of school; all of which often results from the stress of acculturation."
Along with Smokowski and Bacallao, Rachel L. Buchanan, Ph.D., assistant professor of social work at Salisbury University in Maryland, was a co-author of the study, titled "Acculturation and Adjustment in Latino Adolescents: How Cultural Risk Factors and Assets Influence Multiple Domains of Adolescent Mental Health."
This study is published in The Journal of Primary Prevention.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Health afforadability among Latinos could suffer
Senators Worry That Health Overhaul Could Erode Employer Insurance Plans
By ROBERT PEAR and JEFF ZELENY, NY Times, June 24, 2009
WASHINGTON — Senators struggled Wednesday with the possibility that in offering subsidized health insurance to millions of individuals and families, they could inadvertently speed the erosion of employer-provided coverage, which they want to preserve.
Senator Max Baucus, the chairman of the Finance Committee, at a news conference after health care meetings on Wednesday.
Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana, who is leading efforts to write health legislation, said “much of the discussion” focused on this issue at meetings of senators on Wednesday.
And, in the evening, in an indication of how the administration is going all out to sell the need for a new health care system, President Obama participated in a town meeting-style gathering televised by ABC News from the White House.
As part of an ambitious plan to overhaul the health care system, Democrats in both houses of Congress want to require people to carry insurance. They would offer subsidies to low- and moderate-income people who buy coverage through a new regulated market known as a health insurance exchange. Employers who do not provide coverage might have to pay penalties or contribute to a government fund.
Higher penalties are more effective in preventing the erosion of employer-sponsored coverage, the bedrock of insurance for more than 150 million Americans, the Congressional Budget Office told lawmakers.
Small businesses are less likely to provide health insurance than larger businesses. So any penalty for not providing insurance could affect them more than other employers.
Senator Blanche Lincoln, Democrat of Arkansas, said preserving employer-sponsored insurance “needs to be a huge objective.”
Senator Kent Conrad, Democrat of North Dakota, said Congress faced “a very complicated calculus” in devising the new requirements.
“Even with an individual mandate,” Mr. Conrad said, “if there is not some requirement for employers, you will see a drifting of people to the insurance exchange and to government subsidies. That will increase the cost.”
Mr. Baucus, the chairman of the Finance Committee, said senators were investigating “the ramifications and implications” of requiring employers to provide or pay for coverage, the so-called play-or-pay requirement. Mr. Baucus said he and other senators wanted to minimize the chance that employees “may be enticed to leave their firms in order to get health insurance in the exchange.”
The budget office said: “The availability of subsidized coverage in the new insurance exchange would be an attractive option for many lower-income workers. As a result, some employers would decide not to offer their employees health insurance coverage, opting instead to provide other forms of compensation.”
In a letter to Congress three weeks ago, President Obama said small businesses “should be exempted” from any employer mandate. Whether Congress will go along is unclear.
“We will give assistance to small business through tax credits,” Mr. Baucus said Wednesday.
When asked about an exemption for small businesses, Mr. Baucus said: “We talked about it. But how much sense does that really make?”
A bill drafted by House Democratic leaders says, “There will be an exemption for certain small businesses,” but gives no details.
Businesses generally oppose the play-or-pay requirement. They object, in particular, to the House Democrats’ bill, under which most employers would have to provide coverage or pay a fee equivalent to 8 percent of their payroll.
The United States Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business, which represents small employers, said the proposed requirement amounted to a new tax and would frustrate the creation of jobs.
At the televised session on Wednesday evening, Mr. Obama took questions from a panel of doctors and patients, saying the varying plans in Congress were coming together.
“We have to have the courage and the willingness to cooperate and compromise in order to make this happen,” Mr. Obama said. “And if we do, it’s not going to be a completely smooth ride. There’s going to be times over the next several months where we think health care is dead, it’s not going to happen. But if we keep our eye on the prize, then I’m absolutely convinced that we can get it done this time.”
Mr. Obama also left the door open to a new tax on health care benefits. He said he did not want to “prejudge” what efforts were being made to reach a compromise, including proposals in the Senate to tax workers who get expensive insurance policies. He opposed the tax as a presidential candidate.
By ROBERT PEAR and JEFF ZELENY, NY Times, June 24, 2009
WASHINGTON — Senators struggled Wednesday with the possibility that in offering subsidized health insurance to millions of individuals and families, they could inadvertently speed the erosion of employer-provided coverage, which they want to preserve.
Senator Max Baucus, the chairman of the Finance Committee, at a news conference after health care meetings on Wednesday.
Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana, who is leading efforts to write health legislation, said “much of the discussion” focused on this issue at meetings of senators on Wednesday.
And, in the evening, in an indication of how the administration is going all out to sell the need for a new health care system, President Obama participated in a town meeting-style gathering televised by ABC News from the White House.
As part of an ambitious plan to overhaul the health care system, Democrats in both houses of Congress want to require people to carry insurance. They would offer subsidies to low- and moderate-income people who buy coverage through a new regulated market known as a health insurance exchange. Employers who do not provide coverage might have to pay penalties or contribute to a government fund.
Higher penalties are more effective in preventing the erosion of employer-sponsored coverage, the bedrock of insurance for more than 150 million Americans, the Congressional Budget Office told lawmakers.
Small businesses are less likely to provide health insurance than larger businesses. So any penalty for not providing insurance could affect them more than other employers.
Senator Blanche Lincoln, Democrat of Arkansas, said preserving employer-sponsored insurance “needs to be a huge objective.”
Senator Kent Conrad, Democrat of North Dakota, said Congress faced “a very complicated calculus” in devising the new requirements.
“Even with an individual mandate,” Mr. Conrad said, “if there is not some requirement for employers, you will see a drifting of people to the insurance exchange and to government subsidies. That will increase the cost.”
Mr. Baucus, the chairman of the Finance Committee, said senators were investigating “the ramifications and implications” of requiring employers to provide or pay for coverage, the so-called play-or-pay requirement. Mr. Baucus said he and other senators wanted to minimize the chance that employees “may be enticed to leave their firms in order to get health insurance in the exchange.”
The budget office said: “The availability of subsidized coverage in the new insurance exchange would be an attractive option for many lower-income workers. As a result, some employers would decide not to offer their employees health insurance coverage, opting instead to provide other forms of compensation.”
In a letter to Congress three weeks ago, President Obama said small businesses “should be exempted” from any employer mandate. Whether Congress will go along is unclear.
“We will give assistance to small business through tax credits,” Mr. Baucus said Wednesday.
When asked about an exemption for small businesses, Mr. Baucus said: “We talked about it. But how much sense does that really make?”
A bill drafted by House Democratic leaders says, “There will be an exemption for certain small businesses,” but gives no details.
Businesses generally oppose the play-or-pay requirement. They object, in particular, to the House Democrats’ bill, under which most employers would have to provide coverage or pay a fee equivalent to 8 percent of their payroll.
The United States Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business, which represents small employers, said the proposed requirement amounted to a new tax and would frustrate the creation of jobs.
At the televised session on Wednesday evening, Mr. Obama took questions from a panel of doctors and patients, saying the varying plans in Congress were coming together.
“We have to have the courage and the willingness to cooperate and compromise in order to make this happen,” Mr. Obama said. “And if we do, it’s not going to be a completely smooth ride. There’s going to be times over the next several months where we think health care is dead, it’s not going to happen. But if we keep our eye on the prize, then I’m absolutely convinced that we can get it done this time.”
Mr. Obama also left the door open to a new tax on health care benefits. He said he did not want to “prejudge” what efforts were being made to reach a compromise, including proposals in the Senate to tax workers who get expensive insurance policies. He opposed the tax as a presidential candidate.
Latino med group pushes for health reform
Statement of Dr. Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, President and CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association
PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, June 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement of Dr. Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, president and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association:
As the President and Congress labor to pass meaningful health reform this year, their work in reaching out to work with the pharmaceutical industry to bridge the coverage gap in Medicare will prove to be an important step in ensuring every American has access to affordable, high-quality health care coverage and services.
The industry should be recognized for its early commitment to work with Congress and the White House to reduce health care costs, increase access to medicines and ensure comprehensive Health Reform.
The National Hispanic Medical Association is advocating for health reform that will target Hispanics -- increase access to affordable health insurance, prevention in quality care, and a culturally and linguistically competent workforce.
Established in 1994 in Washington, DC, NHMA is a nonprofit association that represents 45,000 Hispanic physicians in the U.S. The NHMA mission is to improve the health of Hispanics and the underserved. For more information, visit www.nhmamd.org.
PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, June 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement of Dr. Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, president and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association:
As the President and Congress labor to pass meaningful health reform this year, their work in reaching out to work with the pharmaceutical industry to bridge the coverage gap in Medicare will prove to be an important step in ensuring every American has access to affordable, high-quality health care coverage and services.
The industry should be recognized for its early commitment to work with Congress and the White House to reduce health care costs, increase access to medicines and ensure comprehensive Health Reform.
The National Hispanic Medical Association is advocating for health reform that will target Hispanics -- increase access to affordable health insurance, prevention in quality care, and a culturally and linguistically competent workforce.
Established in 1994 in Washington, DC, NHMA is a nonprofit association that represents 45,000 Hispanic physicians in the U.S. The NHMA mission is to improve the health of Hispanics and the underserved. For more information, visit www.nhmamd.org.
Hispanics need to know about U.S. eyecare
Focusing on Hispanic Eyecare
PRESS RELEASE
ST. LOUIS, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- If you are having difficulties with your eyesight or need a complete eye exam, which eyecare professional should you visit? The answer may not be as crystal clear as it seems because there are various types of eye care professionals, such as opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists, and all of them play an important role in contributing to proper eyecare.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) and its members are committed to improving the quality and availability of eye and vision care for all Americans. However, we have noticed that Hispanic patients sometimes shy away from visiting an optometrist because of previous knowledge derived from a cultural background that defines the role of the optometrist differently in the United States than how is defined in many countries in Latin America.
In order to simplify the task of finding proper eye care in the blink of an eye, let us take a quick look at the three O's of eye care:
Optometrist, Ophthalmologist and Optician.
The Optometrist is an eye care doctor who examines, diagnoses, treats and manages diseases and eye disorders. This professional has gone through four years of college, an additional four years of study at a college of optometry, and in many cases, one more year in a residency program. A doctor of optometry will tell you if you need glasses and will look further to determine if you suffer an eye condition or eye disease. This professional can also prescribe medication. Optometrists are the largest eye care profession and provide two- thirds of all eye care services. In summary, an optometrist in the U.S. is a doctor in optometry who diagnoses and treats eye diseases and conditions, including prescriptions of eyewear and of the appropriate drugs.
If your children need to get an eye exam before the opening of the school year, or if one morning you notice their eyes could have symptoms of pink eye, this is the eyecare professional to see.
The Ophthalmologist, on the other hand, is the professional to visit if you have cataracts that may require surgery, as this eye care provider is a medical doctor licensed to practice medicine and perform eye surgery. The optometrist often diagnoses the cataracts and refers the patient to the ophthalmologist for further care.
The Optician also has a role in your eyecare, because in conjunction with an Optometrist or an Ophthalmologist, this eye care professional is licensed to dispense eyewear for patients. They will be able to tell you which frames and types of lenses best suit the prescription of your optometrist, and help to make choices based on your particular needs and style.
The AOA and Transitions Optical, Inc. are partnering to actively reach out to Hispanic patients to provide them with educational materials developed in Spanish to suit their particular needs. To facilitate communications and improve access to eyecare, the AOA has developed http://www.aoa.org, where you can find valuable information under "Informacion acerca de sus ojos" including a narrative about visual development from childhood to adulthood; also visit http://www.aprendasobreanteojos.com and http://www.yonosabiaeso.com, developed by Transitions to offer you and your family educational content for all ages.
Next time you need to choose an eyecare professional, remember the three O's, ready to work together and provide you and your family with the best eyecare.
By Peter H. Kehoe, O.D., President, American Optometric Association
PRESS RELEASE
ST. LOUIS, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- If you are having difficulties with your eyesight or need a complete eye exam, which eyecare professional should you visit? The answer may not be as crystal clear as it seems because there are various types of eye care professionals, such as opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists, and all of them play an important role in contributing to proper eyecare.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) and its members are committed to improving the quality and availability of eye and vision care for all Americans. However, we have noticed that Hispanic patients sometimes shy away from visiting an optometrist because of previous knowledge derived from a cultural background that defines the role of the optometrist differently in the United States than how is defined in many countries in Latin America.
In order to simplify the task of finding proper eye care in the blink of an eye, let us take a quick look at the three O's of eye care:
Optometrist, Ophthalmologist and Optician.
The Optometrist is an eye care doctor who examines, diagnoses, treats and manages diseases and eye disorders. This professional has gone through four years of college, an additional four years of study at a college of optometry, and in many cases, one more year in a residency program. A doctor of optometry will tell you if you need glasses and will look further to determine if you suffer an eye condition or eye disease. This professional can also prescribe medication. Optometrists are the largest eye care profession and provide two- thirds of all eye care services. In summary, an optometrist in the U.S. is a doctor in optometry who diagnoses and treats eye diseases and conditions, including prescriptions of eyewear and of the appropriate drugs.
If your children need to get an eye exam before the opening of the school year, or if one morning you notice their eyes could have symptoms of pink eye, this is the eyecare professional to see.
The Ophthalmologist, on the other hand, is the professional to visit if you have cataracts that may require surgery, as this eye care provider is a medical doctor licensed to practice medicine and perform eye surgery. The optometrist often diagnoses the cataracts and refers the patient to the ophthalmologist for further care.
The Optician also has a role in your eyecare, because in conjunction with an Optometrist or an Ophthalmologist, this eye care professional is licensed to dispense eyewear for patients. They will be able to tell you which frames and types of lenses best suit the prescription of your optometrist, and help to make choices based on your particular needs and style.
The AOA and Transitions Optical, Inc. are partnering to actively reach out to Hispanic patients to provide them with educational materials developed in Spanish to suit their particular needs. To facilitate communications and improve access to eyecare, the AOA has developed http://www.aoa.org, where you can find valuable information under "Informacion acerca de sus ojos" including a narrative about visual development from childhood to adulthood; also visit http://www.aprendasobreanteojos.com and http://www.yonosabiaeso.com, developed by Transitions to offer you and your family educational content for all ages.
Next time you need to choose an eyecare professional, remember the three O's, ready to work together and provide you and your family with the best eyecare.
By Peter H. Kehoe, O.D., President, American Optometric Association
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Hispanics account for alcohol related suicides
Racial Differences Evident in Alcohol-Related Suicides American Indians and Hispanics account for large portion of intoxicated suicide decedents
Modern Medicine, Jun 22, 2009
MONDAY, June 22 (HealthDay News) -- There are significant racial and ethnic variations in the burden of alcohol-attributable suicides in the United States, according to a study published in the June 19 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Alex E. Crosby, M.D., and colleagues at the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control in Atlanta, analyzed 2005 to 2006 data from the National Violent Death Reporting System to assess the relationship between suicide and alcohol in different racial and ethnic populations. The sample comprised 18,994 suicides that occurred in 17 states. Laboratory data, medical and law enforcement officials' judgment, and questions to the next of kin were the sources of alcohol-related information.
According to the data, among suicide decedents who were tested for alcohol intoxication, almost 24 percent had a blood alcohol concentration at or above 0.08 g/dL, the legal limit. The majority of the cases were American Indian or Alaska Natives, accounting for 37 percent of the total, while 29 percent were Hispanic, the investigators found.
"These results indicate that many populations can benefit from comprehensive and culturally appropriate suicide-prevention strategies that include efforts to reduce alcohol consumption, especially programs that focus on persons aged greater than 50 years," the authors conclude.
Modern Medicine, Jun 22, 2009
MONDAY, June 22 (HealthDay News) -- There are significant racial and ethnic variations in the burden of alcohol-attributable suicides in the United States, according to a study published in the June 19 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Alex E. Crosby, M.D., and colleagues at the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control in Atlanta, analyzed 2005 to 2006 data from the National Violent Death Reporting System to assess the relationship between suicide and alcohol in different racial and ethnic populations. The sample comprised 18,994 suicides that occurred in 17 states. Laboratory data, medical and law enforcement officials' judgment, and questions to the next of kin were the sources of alcohol-related information.
According to the data, among suicide decedents who were tested for alcohol intoxication, almost 24 percent had a blood alcohol concentration at or above 0.08 g/dL, the legal limit. The majority of the cases were American Indian or Alaska Natives, accounting for 37 percent of the total, while 29 percent were Hispanic, the investigators found.
"These results indicate that many populations can benefit from comprehensive and culturally appropriate suicide-prevention strategies that include efforts to reduce alcohol consumption, especially programs that focus on persons aged greater than 50 years," the authors conclude.
Hispanic groups join to expand health information
Ser Padres Joins Forces with la Doctora Aliza's VidaySalud.com to Offer the Hispanic Community Unprecedented Online Health-Related Content in Spanish
PRESS RELEASE
NEW YORK, June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Ser Padres magazine, the primary source of parenting information for U.S. Hispanics, has expanded its relationship with Ser Padres Contributor and Health Expert Dr. Aliza Lifshitz, M.D. (la Doctora Aliza), and her recently-launched web site VidaySalud.com. The site aims to enhance relationships between Latino patients and their physicians by providing patients with the information they need to better communicate with their doctors, ensure better compliance with physician instructions and deliver better health outcomes.
Ser Padres and Dr. Aliza have launched two co-branded channels on VidaySalud.com. The site's "Ninos" (Kids) channel --
http://www.vidaysalud.com/category/daily/ninos/ -- will now include content from the magazine focused on helping Hispanic parents raise healthy and happy kids. The site's Pregnancy Channel "Embarazo" --http://www.vidaysalud.com/category/daily/embarazo/ -- will feature content from Ser Padres' offshoot for expectant mothers, Ser Padres Espera.
In addition, Dr. Aliza will inform, educate and answer questions in the Ser Padres special section named "Hola, Doctora Aliza" (Hi, Dr. Aliza) and readers will have the opportunity to communicate and send her their pressing health and pregnancy questions at mimosblog@serpadres.com.
"We know that up to 97% of Spanish-dominant Hispanics say they worry about their overall health but there have been obstacles – including language, education, misinformation and distrust -- to receiving quality health care for years," commented Alberto Oliva, editor of Ser Padres. "Growing our relationship with Dr. Lifshitz on the web will help Hispanic patients, because it combines two names that have been trusted and tested sources for health information in an easily-accessible way."
"Together, we can break down those barriers," added Lifshitz. "Each day, more and more Hispanics are using the web and we'll provide parents and soon- to-be parents a comprehensive health resource including daily original content, a symptoms database and wellness tools."
Ser Padres Publisher Enedina Vega said: "Now, Hispanic parents can find us in print and online -- in partnership with one of the most influential and recognized doctors in our market. This is an example of true brand synergies for the greater consumer good."
PRESS RELEASE
NEW YORK, June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Ser Padres magazine, the primary source of parenting information for U.S. Hispanics, has expanded its relationship with Ser Padres Contributor and Health Expert Dr. Aliza Lifshitz, M.D. (la Doctora Aliza), and her recently-launched web site VidaySalud.com. The site aims to enhance relationships between Latino patients and their physicians by providing patients with the information they need to better communicate with their doctors, ensure better compliance with physician instructions and deliver better health outcomes.
Ser Padres and Dr. Aliza have launched two co-branded channels on VidaySalud.com. The site's "Ninos" (Kids) channel --
http://www.vidaysalud.com/category/daily/ninos/ -- will now include content from the magazine focused on helping Hispanic parents raise healthy and happy kids. The site's Pregnancy Channel "Embarazo" --http://www.vidaysalud.com/category/daily/embarazo/ -- will feature content from Ser Padres' offshoot for expectant mothers, Ser Padres Espera.
In addition, Dr. Aliza will inform, educate and answer questions in the Ser Padres special section named "Hola, Doctora Aliza" (Hi, Dr. Aliza) and readers will have the opportunity to communicate and send her their pressing health and pregnancy questions at mimosblog@serpadres.com.
"We know that up to 97% of Spanish-dominant Hispanics say they worry about their overall health but there have been obstacles – including language, education, misinformation and distrust -- to receiving quality health care for years," commented Alberto Oliva, editor of Ser Padres. "Growing our relationship with Dr. Lifshitz on the web will help Hispanic patients, because it combines two names that have been trusted and tested sources for health information in an easily-accessible way."
"Together, we can break down those barriers," added Lifshitz. "Each day, more and more Hispanics are using the web and we'll provide parents and soon- to-be parents a comprehensive health resource including daily original content, a symptoms database and wellness tools."
Ser Padres Publisher Enedina Vega said: "Now, Hispanic parents can find us in print and online -- in partnership with one of the most influential and recognized doctors in our market. This is an example of true brand synergies for the greater consumer good."
Hispanic children face major weight problems
Major study highlights weight differences among 3-19 year-olds with type 1 and 2 diabetes
PRESS RELEASE
A major study of three to 19 year-olds has provided vital data on the weight problems faced by the growing number of children and young people with type 1 diabetes, which is more prevalent in younger age groups than type 2 diabetes.
The findings of the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study Group, published online by Pediatric Diabetes, show that children and youths with type 1 diabetes are more likely to be overweight than those without diabetes.
Researchers from six clinical centres across the USA took part in the study, which compared data from 3,953 diabetics, aged between three and 19, taking part in the SEARCH study, with data for 7,666 non-diabetic children and youths from a national US study.
"The links between type 2 diabetes and excess weight are well documented, but are less clear in type 1 diabetes which affects less than 10 per cent of people with diabetes but is more common in children and young people" explains lead researcher Dr Lenna Liu from the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children's Hospital USA.
"When people have diabetes their blood glucose can become too high" she continues. "In type 1 diabetes, this happens because an autoimmune process has destroyed the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, allowing glucose levels to rise. Type 2 diabetes occurs when not enough insulin is being produced or the insulin is not working properly. Traditionally a disease in overweight adults, type 2 diabetes is increasingly being seen in younger patients as childhood obesity levels increase."
The population-based study looked at a racially and ethnically diverse group of children and young people with diabetes and compared them with the non-diabetic control group.
Most of the children and youths who took part in the study had type 1 diabetes (89 %) and tended to be younger – 49% of the type 1 group were aged three to 11, compared to 7% of the type 2 group.
The type 1 diabetes subjects were equally split between male and female and three-quarters (75%) were non-Hispanic White, 12% were Hispanic, 9% were African American, 4% were Asian/Pacific Islanders and 1% were American Indian.
Key findings included:
* Non-Hispanic White males aged from three to 11 with type 1 diabetes were more likely to be overweight/obese than females (34% versus 27%) while females were more likely to be overweight/obese when they were 12-19 years of age (37% versus 29%).
* African American females were significantly more likely to be overweight/obese in both age groups than males (54/55% versus 36/36%) but there were no significant differences between Hispanic males and females.
* More than a fifth of the children and youths with type 1 diabetes (22%) were overweight, compared with 10% of those with type 2 diabetes and 16% of those without diabetes.
* When this was broken down by race/ethnicity, 28% of Hispanic children and youths with type 1 diabetes were overweight, as were 24% of Asian/Pacific Islanders, 23% of African Americans, 21% of non-Hispanic Whites and 15% of American Indians.
* The figures for children and youths with type 2 diabetes showed that 15% of Asian/Pacific Islanders were overweight, as were 14% of non-Hispanic Whites and 11% of Hispanics.
* Approximately one in eight children and youths with type 1 diabetes (13%) were obese, less than the 79% of subjects with type 2 diabetes and the 17% without diabetes.
* When this was broken down by race/ethnicity, 20% of African American children and youths with type 1 diabetes were obese, as were 17% of Hispanics, 17% of Asian/Pacific Islanders and 11% of non-Hispanic Whites.
* The figures for children and youths with type 2 diabetes showed that 91% of African Americans were obese, as were 88% of American Indians and 75% of Hispanics.
"Knowing the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and young people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes is very important as it helps us to identify those individuals - by age, gender or race/ethnicity - who face the greatest risk of the clinical complications associated with excess weight" say Dr Liu.
"We feel that further studies are critical to help us to better understand how weight causes complications in the growing number of children and young people with diabetes and influences the diagnosis and treatment they receive."
PRESS RELEASE
A major study of three to 19 year-olds has provided vital data on the weight problems faced by the growing number of children and young people with type 1 diabetes, which is more prevalent in younger age groups than type 2 diabetes.
The findings of the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study Group, published online by Pediatric Diabetes, show that children and youths with type 1 diabetes are more likely to be overweight than those without diabetes.
Researchers from six clinical centres across the USA took part in the study, which compared data from 3,953 diabetics, aged between three and 19, taking part in the SEARCH study, with data for 7,666 non-diabetic children and youths from a national US study.
"The links between type 2 diabetes and excess weight are well documented, but are less clear in type 1 diabetes which affects less than 10 per cent of people with diabetes but is more common in children and young people" explains lead researcher Dr Lenna Liu from the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children's Hospital USA.
"When people have diabetes their blood glucose can become too high" she continues. "In type 1 diabetes, this happens because an autoimmune process has destroyed the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, allowing glucose levels to rise. Type 2 diabetes occurs when not enough insulin is being produced or the insulin is not working properly. Traditionally a disease in overweight adults, type 2 diabetes is increasingly being seen in younger patients as childhood obesity levels increase."
The population-based study looked at a racially and ethnically diverse group of children and young people with diabetes and compared them with the non-diabetic control group.
Most of the children and youths who took part in the study had type 1 diabetes (89 %) and tended to be younger – 49% of the type 1 group were aged three to 11, compared to 7% of the type 2 group.
The type 1 diabetes subjects were equally split between male and female and three-quarters (75%) were non-Hispanic White, 12% were Hispanic, 9% were African American, 4% were Asian/Pacific Islanders and 1% were American Indian.
Key findings included:
* Non-Hispanic White males aged from three to 11 with type 1 diabetes were more likely to be overweight/obese than females (34% versus 27%) while females were more likely to be overweight/obese when they were 12-19 years of age (37% versus 29%).
* African American females were significantly more likely to be overweight/obese in both age groups than males (54/55% versus 36/36%) but there were no significant differences between Hispanic males and females.
* More than a fifth of the children and youths with type 1 diabetes (22%) were overweight, compared with 10% of those with type 2 diabetes and 16% of those without diabetes.
* When this was broken down by race/ethnicity, 28% of Hispanic children and youths with type 1 diabetes were overweight, as were 24% of Asian/Pacific Islanders, 23% of African Americans, 21% of non-Hispanic Whites and 15% of American Indians.
* The figures for children and youths with type 2 diabetes showed that 15% of Asian/Pacific Islanders were overweight, as were 14% of non-Hispanic Whites and 11% of Hispanics.
* Approximately one in eight children and youths with type 1 diabetes (13%) were obese, less than the 79% of subjects with type 2 diabetes and the 17% without diabetes.
* When this was broken down by race/ethnicity, 20% of African American children and youths with type 1 diabetes were obese, as were 17% of Hispanics, 17% of Asian/Pacific Islanders and 11% of non-Hispanic Whites.
* The figures for children and youths with type 2 diabetes showed that 91% of African Americans were obese, as were 88% of American Indians and 75% of Hispanics.
"Knowing the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and young people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes is very important as it helps us to identify those individuals - by age, gender or race/ethnicity - who face the greatest risk of the clinical complications associated with excess weight" say Dr Liu.
"We feel that further studies are critical to help us to better understand how weight causes complications in the growing number of children and young people with diabetes and influences the diagnosis and treatment they receive."
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Hispanic teens make up half of pregnancies
Half of teen pregnancies in Larimer County among Hispanics
BY HALLIE WOODS • Coloradoan.com • June 21, 2009
Half of all teenage pregnancies in Larimer County between 2005 and 2007 occurred among the female Hispanic population, and officials say cultural differences may be a contributing factor.
From 2005 to 2007, 126 of the 251 pregnancies in women ages 15 to 17 occurred within the female Hispanic population in Larimer County. Hispanics make up 10 percent of the population in Larimer County.
The birth rate for Hispanic teenagers in that time period was 67.7 to 71.3 per 1,000, and 8.6 per 1,000 for non-Hispanics, according to data compiled by the Healthier Communities Coalition of Larimer County.
The rate is above the state of Colorado's numbers, at 65.5 per 1,000 births.
Experts say there isn't a solid body of research to pinpoint causes, but they know a variety of issues can play a part in the large number of Hispanic teen pregnancies.
"Teen pregnancy for all populations is really a complex issue; there isn't one single answer," said Kori Wilford, health educator for the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment. "Really, teen pregnancy really runs across all classes and all ethnicities."
Larimer County isn't isolated in this phenomenon - 53 percent of Hispanic females get pregnant at least once before they reach 20, which is two times the national average, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.
Some target cultural family values and an emphasis on motherhood as one of the possible explanations, said Sarah Killoren, a post-doctoral research associate at CSU who has focused her area of study on Hispanic sexuality.
How parents enforce values or what kind of emphasis they put on avoiding teen pregnancy can also help determine teen pregnancy rates, said Lise Youngblade, head of the department of human development and family studies at Colorado State University.
A 2000 study based on census data found that the birth rate for non-U.S.-born Hispanic teens was twice the rate of U.S.-born Hispanic teens.
"It could just be the values that they are bringing with them that are just more traditional," Killoren said. "Coming to a new place, you would expect the strongest influence of that first generation to be the culture of origin."
(2 of 2)
A difference in the use of contraception could also be a contributor to high pregnancy rates.
Approximately 50 percent of female Hispanic girls ages 15 to 17 reported using a condom during their last sexual encounter, compared with 56 percent of Caucasian females and 62 percent of black female teenagers, reports the National Campaign.
"(Hispanics) are less likely to use contraception, and that can be for religious reasons or power differentials within the couples," Killoren said. "Some females are not comfortable asking to use contraception."
Killoren said that though some methods of intervention and prevention have proved successful in the Hispanic population, there is no single approach that will reach any specific population.
"Because there is so much diversity among Latinos, it really is necessary to direct these specifically to Latino sub-groups," she said.
Wilford added, however, that family communication seems to be a very effective tool in cutting back teen pregnancies across a variety of cultures.
"It's important to educate the whole family why it's important to talk about sex," she said.
A difference in the use of contraception could also be a contributor to high pregnancy rates.
Approximately 50 percent of female Hispanic girls ages 15 to 17 reported using a condom during their last sexual encounter, compared with 56 percent of Caucasian females and 62 percent of black female teenagers, reports the National Campaign.
"(Hispanics) are less likely to use contraception, and that can be for religious reasons or power differentials within the couples," Killoren said. "Some females are not comfortable asking to use contraception."
Killoren said that though some methods of intervention and prevention have proved successful in the Hispanic population, there is no single approach that will reach any specific population.
"Because there is so much diversity among Latinos, it really is necessary to direct these specifically to Latino sub-groups," she said.
Wilford added, however, that family communication seems to be a very effective tool in cutting back teen pregnancies across a variety of cultures.
"It's important to educate the whole family why it's important to talk about sex," she said.
BY HALLIE WOODS • Coloradoan.com • June 21, 2009
Half of all teenage pregnancies in Larimer County between 2005 and 2007 occurred among the female Hispanic population, and officials say cultural differences may be a contributing factor.
From 2005 to 2007, 126 of the 251 pregnancies in women ages 15 to 17 occurred within the female Hispanic population in Larimer County. Hispanics make up 10 percent of the population in Larimer County.
The birth rate for Hispanic teenagers in that time period was 67.7 to 71.3 per 1,000, and 8.6 per 1,000 for non-Hispanics, according to data compiled by the Healthier Communities Coalition of Larimer County.
The rate is above the state of Colorado's numbers, at 65.5 per 1,000 births.
Experts say there isn't a solid body of research to pinpoint causes, but they know a variety of issues can play a part in the large number of Hispanic teen pregnancies.
"Teen pregnancy for all populations is really a complex issue; there isn't one single answer," said Kori Wilford, health educator for the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment. "Really, teen pregnancy really runs across all classes and all ethnicities."
Larimer County isn't isolated in this phenomenon - 53 percent of Hispanic females get pregnant at least once before they reach 20, which is two times the national average, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.
Some target cultural family values and an emphasis on motherhood as one of the possible explanations, said Sarah Killoren, a post-doctoral research associate at CSU who has focused her area of study on Hispanic sexuality.
How parents enforce values or what kind of emphasis they put on avoiding teen pregnancy can also help determine teen pregnancy rates, said Lise Youngblade, head of the department of human development and family studies at Colorado State University.
A 2000 study based on census data found that the birth rate for non-U.S.-born Hispanic teens was twice the rate of U.S.-born Hispanic teens.
"It could just be the values that they are bringing with them that are just more traditional," Killoren said. "Coming to a new place, you would expect the strongest influence of that first generation to be the culture of origin."
(2 of 2)
A difference in the use of contraception could also be a contributor to high pregnancy rates.
Approximately 50 percent of female Hispanic girls ages 15 to 17 reported using a condom during their last sexual encounter, compared with 56 percent of Caucasian females and 62 percent of black female teenagers, reports the National Campaign.
"(Hispanics) are less likely to use contraception, and that can be for religious reasons or power differentials within the couples," Killoren said. "Some females are not comfortable asking to use contraception."
Killoren said that though some methods of intervention and prevention have proved successful in the Hispanic population, there is no single approach that will reach any specific population.
"Because there is so much diversity among Latinos, it really is necessary to direct these specifically to Latino sub-groups," she said.
Wilford added, however, that family communication seems to be a very effective tool in cutting back teen pregnancies across a variety of cultures.
"It's important to educate the whole family why it's important to talk about sex," she said.
A difference in the use of contraception could also be a contributor to high pregnancy rates.
Approximately 50 percent of female Hispanic girls ages 15 to 17 reported using a condom during their last sexual encounter, compared with 56 percent of Caucasian females and 62 percent of black female teenagers, reports the National Campaign.
"(Hispanics) are less likely to use contraception, and that can be for religious reasons or power differentials within the couples," Killoren said. "Some females are not comfortable asking to use contraception."
Killoren said that though some methods of intervention and prevention have proved successful in the Hispanic population, there is no single approach that will reach any specific population.
"Because there is so much diversity among Latinos, it really is necessary to direct these specifically to Latino sub-groups," she said.
Wilford added, however, that family communication seems to be a very effective tool in cutting back teen pregnancies across a variety of cultures.
"It's important to educate the whole family why it's important to talk about sex," she said.
Hispanic men at risk for BPH
African-American and Hispanic Men at Risk for BPH
Dolores Bundy, Atlanta Health Trends Examiner, June 20, 2009
According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Center, Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) affects approximately half of all men over the age of 50 and as many as 90 percent of men aged 70 and older. Defined as manageable if properly diagnosed by a physician, the symptoms of BPH include frequent and urgent urination; weak urinary stream; the need to urinate at night, or feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.
“Let me make this very, very clear,” R. Lawrence Hatchett, M.D., a board certified Urologist and Director of Southern Illinois Urology explains. “Having an enlarged prostate has no association what-so-ever with prostate cancer. However, BPH affects nearly 8 million men in the United States.”
BPH, or an enlarged prostate, is defined as a progressive condition in which prostate cells grow more rapidly than normal and cause the prostate to become enlarged.
According to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC). African-American and Hispanic men are less likely than Caucasian men to see a physician. Thirty-nine percent of Hispanic men did not visit a doctor or health professional in the past 12 months, compared to 27 percent of African-American men and 23 percent of Caucasian men. “With aging, the majority of men will have some BPH symptoms,” says Hatchett. “The symptoms may vary and, if left untreated, can involve problems with urination that disrupt men’s lives.”
To inform men of this condition and acknowledge that there is help available, Men’s Health Network (MHN) and the National Black Men’s Health Network (NBMHN) has enhanced its Back to Life Without Interruptions campaign to raise awareness and offer information that is specific to African-American and Hispanic men age 50 and above. The initiative includes information about BPH; a complete self-assessment tool; and tips on how to consult physicians about diagnosis and treatment in both Spanish and English.
Dr. Hatchett’s main interests are concentrated in men’s health, benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), erectile dysfunction and kidney stone treatment and prevention. He received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, and received his medical degree at the University of Chicago. “I have been involved with the Men’s Health Network for some time now to foster the Back to Life Without Interruptions campaign,” he says. “I want people to become aware of the symptoms of BPH.
“These symptoms include what we call Obstructive or Irritative symptoms. Obstructive symptoms include a weak stream, difficulty in initiating the stream, a feeling of not having completely emptied the bladder, and stopping and starting initiation,” He continues. “Irritative symptoms have patients usually coming in to see me, which include symptoms that typically interrupt life with maybe having to urinate every 30 minutes, or urging incontinence, getting up two to six times in the middle of the night, affecting your sleep.”
The Back to Life Without Interruptions campaign hopes to bring to the forefront the issue of men adjusting their lifestyle to accommodate the symptoms of their BPH rather than treating them. “We want to encourage all men, including the African-American and Hispanic men who are statistically less likely to see a physician, to seek treatment if they experience symptoms of BPH and not to accept these types of daily interruptions in their lives,” says Dr. Jean Bonhomme, board of directors, Men’s Health Network ,and founder of the National Black Men's Health Network. “There are treatments available and men do not have to alter their daily routines for this condition.”
Men's Health Network (MHN) is a non-profit educational organization comprised of physicians, researchers, public health workers, individuals and other health professionals. MHN is committed to improving the health and wellness of men through education campaigns, partnerships with retailers and other private entities, workplace health programs, data collection, and work with health care providers to provide better programs and funding for men's health needs.
The National Black Men's Health Network was founded in June 1987 by a group of community-conscious individuals to raise public awareness about the excessive morbidity and mortality rates in the African-American community in general and among African-American males in particular.
“African-American males are known to suffer extremely high rates of heart disease, cancer, homicide, alcoholism, drug abuse, HIV disease, injuries, and other major causes of disability and death,” Hatchett informs. “While maintaining a specific focus on the grave and often-neglected health concerns of African-American men, the organization also advocates and supports attention to the health needs of women and children, believing that the overall health of any community depends upon a positive balance between the genders.”
“Typically, symptoms of BPH start slowly and become severe over time,” concludes Hatchett. “It gets to the point where men do not recognize how much they compromise their work and leisure activities to accommodate the need to urinate.”
For more information, visit the website www.nointerruptions.com
Dolores Bundy, Atlanta Health Trends Examiner, June 20, 2009
According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Center, Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) affects approximately half of all men over the age of 50 and as many as 90 percent of men aged 70 and older. Defined as manageable if properly diagnosed by a physician, the symptoms of BPH include frequent and urgent urination; weak urinary stream; the need to urinate at night, or feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.
“Let me make this very, very clear,” R. Lawrence Hatchett, M.D., a board certified Urologist and Director of Southern Illinois Urology explains. “Having an enlarged prostate has no association what-so-ever with prostate cancer. However, BPH affects nearly 8 million men in the United States.”
BPH, or an enlarged prostate, is defined as a progressive condition in which prostate cells grow more rapidly than normal and cause the prostate to become enlarged.
According to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC). African-American and Hispanic men are less likely than Caucasian men to see a physician. Thirty-nine percent of Hispanic men did not visit a doctor or health professional in the past 12 months, compared to 27 percent of African-American men and 23 percent of Caucasian men. “With aging, the majority of men will have some BPH symptoms,” says Hatchett. “The symptoms may vary and, if left untreated, can involve problems with urination that disrupt men’s lives.”
To inform men of this condition and acknowledge that there is help available, Men’s Health Network (MHN) and the National Black Men’s Health Network (NBMHN) has enhanced its Back to Life Without Interruptions campaign to raise awareness and offer information that is specific to African-American and Hispanic men age 50 and above. The initiative includes information about BPH; a complete self-assessment tool; and tips on how to consult physicians about diagnosis and treatment in both Spanish and English.
Dr. Hatchett’s main interests are concentrated in men’s health, benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), erectile dysfunction and kidney stone treatment and prevention. He received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, and received his medical degree at the University of Chicago. “I have been involved with the Men’s Health Network for some time now to foster the Back to Life Without Interruptions campaign,” he says. “I want people to become aware of the symptoms of BPH.
“These symptoms include what we call Obstructive or Irritative symptoms. Obstructive symptoms include a weak stream, difficulty in initiating the stream, a feeling of not having completely emptied the bladder, and stopping and starting initiation,” He continues. “Irritative symptoms have patients usually coming in to see me, which include symptoms that typically interrupt life with maybe having to urinate every 30 minutes, or urging incontinence, getting up two to six times in the middle of the night, affecting your sleep.”
The Back to Life Without Interruptions campaign hopes to bring to the forefront the issue of men adjusting their lifestyle to accommodate the symptoms of their BPH rather than treating them. “We want to encourage all men, including the African-American and Hispanic men who are statistically less likely to see a physician, to seek treatment if they experience symptoms of BPH and not to accept these types of daily interruptions in their lives,” says Dr. Jean Bonhomme, board of directors, Men’s Health Network ,and founder of the National Black Men's Health Network. “There are treatments available and men do not have to alter their daily routines for this condition.”
Men's Health Network (MHN) is a non-profit educational organization comprised of physicians, researchers, public health workers, individuals and other health professionals. MHN is committed to improving the health and wellness of men through education campaigns, partnerships with retailers and other private entities, workplace health programs, data collection, and work with health care providers to provide better programs and funding for men's health needs.
The National Black Men's Health Network was founded in June 1987 by a group of community-conscious individuals to raise public awareness about the excessive morbidity and mortality rates in the African-American community in general and among African-American males in particular.
“African-American males are known to suffer extremely high rates of heart disease, cancer, homicide, alcoholism, drug abuse, HIV disease, injuries, and other major causes of disability and death,” Hatchett informs. “While maintaining a specific focus on the grave and often-neglected health concerns of African-American men, the organization also advocates and supports attention to the health needs of women and children, believing that the overall health of any community depends upon a positive balance between the genders.”
“Typically, symptoms of BPH start slowly and become severe over time,” concludes Hatchett. “It gets to the point where men do not recognize how much they compromise their work and leisure activities to accommodate the need to urinate.”
For more information, visit the website www.nointerruptions.com
Hispanic physicians group calls for reform
Latinos Call for Health Care Reform
La Opinión, Jun 19, 2009
LOS ANGELES -- Latinos are calling on the White House to to take their views into consideration in the drafting of a health care reform bill, and California would be among the states to benefit, reports La Opinión. At a June 17 conference held in Washington, D.C., the National Association of Hispanic Physicians met with legislators and officials in the Obama administration to discuss the disparities in access to medical services among Latinos and other ethnic groups.
The call for affordable health insurance comes as California faces massive budget cuts to community clinics that provide health services for these communities. These programs include Extended Access Primary Care, which provides services to nearly 56,000 patients in Los Angeles alone, and the Healthy Families program that serves nearly 233,000 children in Los Angeles County, 56 percent of whom are Latino. Nearly 2 million Californians, including a 1.5 million children, will lose their health coverage due to these cuts.
There are currently 47 million people without health insurance in United States. In the case of California, about seven million people have no health insurance, including 34 percent of Latinos and three out of five Latinos under 65.
La Opinión, Jun 19, 2009
LOS ANGELES -- Latinos are calling on the White House to to take their views into consideration in the drafting of a health care reform bill, and California would be among the states to benefit, reports La Opinión. At a June 17 conference held in Washington, D.C., the National Association of Hispanic Physicians met with legislators and officials in the Obama administration to discuss the disparities in access to medical services among Latinos and other ethnic groups.
The call for affordable health insurance comes as California faces massive budget cuts to community clinics that provide health services for these communities. These programs include Extended Access Primary Care, which provides services to nearly 56,000 patients in Los Angeles alone, and the Healthy Families program that serves nearly 233,000 children in Los Angeles County, 56 percent of whom are Latino. Nearly 2 million Californians, including a 1.5 million children, will lose their health coverage due to these cuts.
There are currently 47 million people without health insurance in United States. In the case of California, about seven million people have no health insurance, including 34 percent of Latinos and three out of five Latinos under 65.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Chicago plans Hispanic health event
Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition Presents Third-Annual Vive tu Vida! Get Up! Get Moving!(TM) Event
Thousands Expected for Healthy Lifestyle Celebration
PRESS RELEASE
CHICAGO, June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 60 health and community services agencies will join the Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition to present Chicago's third-annual Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!(TM) celebration. The event promotes family physical activity for better health and wellness for people of all ages and all sizes. The event will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at McKinley Park Fieldhouse at 2210 West Pershing Road (at the corner of West Pershing and South Western Blvd.) in Chicago. The event is FREE and open to the public.
Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!(TM) reminds us that people of all ages and sizes can make movement a part of their daily lives -- and have fun doing it! Dance, learn a new activity, or walk with family or friends. "There are hundreds of ways to 'get up and get moving' for your health," says Esther Sciamarella, executive director of the Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition.
Proclamations declaring Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!(TM) day will be issued by Governor Pat Quinn and Mayor Richard Daley highlighting the State and City's commitment to "exercise: mind, body & spirit -- it is how to live!"
This exciting event is expected to attract thousands and will feature FREE health screenings including cholesterol, blood pressure, immunizations, and eye exams, as well as health information for all participants. Among the fun FREE family activities scheduled are Fun Kick soccer clinics sponsored by the Chicago Fire; tennis clinics, including lessons for youth, sponsored by the Midwest Tennis Association; a basketball hoops tourney; dance lessons; safe bike lessons; and Zumba! FREE Raffles will also take place throughout the event for kids bikes; family-pack tickets to the Chicago Fire soccer game that evening against the Tigres UANL; Antonio Solis, Pepe Aguilar, and Wisin and Yandel concert tickets; and much more.
The event will also feature the "Artery Explorer," a multi-sensory motion simulator ride that takes people on a virtual tour of the heart and illustrates the importance of vascular health. The simulator is part of AstraZeneca's "US Against Athero" national tour that brings a positive message about the steps we can all take for our heart health.
"Making movement a daily part of your life is one of the most important steps you can take for your and your family's health," says Jane L. Delgado, PhD, MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health. "We are grateful to our national sponsors for their support of these family health events and thank AstraZeneca for helping us make heart health information available, Univision Communications for working to get the word out about the events, and the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) and U.S. Soccer Foundation for making tennis and soccer clinics a part of a great day of fun activities for the whole family!"
Thousands Expected for Healthy Lifestyle Celebration
PRESS RELEASE
CHICAGO, June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 60 health and community services agencies will join the Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition to present Chicago's third-annual Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!(TM) celebration. The event promotes family physical activity for better health and wellness for people of all ages and all sizes. The event will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at McKinley Park Fieldhouse at 2210 West Pershing Road (at the corner of West Pershing and South Western Blvd.) in Chicago. The event is FREE and open to the public.
Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!(TM) reminds us that people of all ages and sizes can make movement a part of their daily lives -- and have fun doing it! Dance, learn a new activity, or walk with family or friends. "There are hundreds of ways to 'get up and get moving' for your health," says Esther Sciamarella, executive director of the Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition.
Proclamations declaring Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!(TM) day will be issued by Governor Pat Quinn and Mayor Richard Daley highlighting the State and City's commitment to "exercise: mind, body & spirit -- it is how to live!"
This exciting event is expected to attract thousands and will feature FREE health screenings including cholesterol, blood pressure, immunizations, and eye exams, as well as health information for all participants. Among the fun FREE family activities scheduled are Fun Kick soccer clinics sponsored by the Chicago Fire; tennis clinics, including lessons for youth, sponsored by the Midwest Tennis Association; a basketball hoops tourney; dance lessons; safe bike lessons; and Zumba! FREE Raffles will also take place throughout the event for kids bikes; family-pack tickets to the Chicago Fire soccer game that evening against the Tigres UANL; Antonio Solis, Pepe Aguilar, and Wisin and Yandel concert tickets; and much more.
The event will also feature the "Artery Explorer," a multi-sensory motion simulator ride that takes people on a virtual tour of the heart and illustrates the importance of vascular health. The simulator is part of AstraZeneca's "US Against Athero" national tour that brings a positive message about the steps we can all take for our heart health.
"Making movement a daily part of your life is one of the most important steps you can take for your and your family's health," says Jane L. Delgado, PhD, MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health. "We are grateful to our national sponsors for their support of these family health events and thank AstraZeneca for helping us make heart health information available, Univision Communications for working to get the word out about the events, and the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) and U.S. Soccer Foundation for making tennis and soccer clinics a part of a great day of fun activities for the whole family!"
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Latino Doctor Shortage
Latino Doctor Shortage
News Channel 10, Jun 12, 2009
Foster parent Doris Mejia says many of her latino friends hate going to the doctor becausewhen they ask questions to the doctor and they find it hard to make themselves understood.
She'd like to see more latinos work in medicine but right now less than 8 percent of medical students have hispanic heritage.
Texas Tech's Medical School is working on that by reaching out to latino organizations, hiring spanish speaking faculty and making contact with minorities in high school. All to let latinos know "that there are open arms and we want a diverse class. And that we want to provide the best care we can to all of our population,'' Regional Dean Richard Jordan said.
Michael Caglia is a latino student at Tech. He says the recruitment efforts need to start earlier.
"A lot of them have no idea how to apply to college and think that money is always an issue ... There needs to be education on how to get educated," he said.
Mejia doesn't care how it gets done, she just hopes there's more latino doctors before it's too late for one of her friends.
News Channel 10, Jun 12, 2009
Foster parent Doris Mejia says many of her latino friends hate going to the doctor becausewhen they ask questions to the doctor and they find it hard to make themselves understood.
She'd like to see more latinos work in medicine but right now less than 8 percent of medical students have hispanic heritage.
Texas Tech's Medical School is working on that by reaching out to latino organizations, hiring spanish speaking faculty and making contact with minorities in high school. All to let latinos know "that there are open arms and we want a diverse class. And that we want to provide the best care we can to all of our population,'' Regional Dean Richard Jordan said.
Michael Caglia is a latino student at Tech. He says the recruitment efforts need to start earlier.
"A lot of them have no idea how to apply to college and think that money is always an issue ... There needs to be education on how to get educated," he said.
Mejia doesn't care how it gets done, she just hopes there's more latino doctors before it's too late for one of her friends.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Hispanic, Asian Caucuses want equal healthcare
Minority lawmakers want bill to close health gaps
By BEN EVANS, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Black, Latino and Asian lawmakers warned Democratic leaders that any health care overhaul that ignores health gaps between whites and minorities will face stiff opposition.
The lawmakers said they would be hard-pressed to support a bill without a new program providing access to health care for all Americans.
"The public health option has to be there," Rep. Mike Honda, a California Democrat who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said at a news conference. "If we don't have a public option, there's no discussion."
Republicans are resisting a government health insurance program that would compete with private insurance companies, arguing that the companies would be put at a competitive disadvantage.
Members of the Asian caucus, along with the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said they plan to introduce legislation this week that includes their wish list for broadening health care overhaul beyond various plans floated in the House and Senate.
Citing federal research showing higher rates of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and infant mortality among minorities, they said they would seek more funds for community health centers that provide care in poor neighborhoods.
The lawmakers also called for expanding a National Institutes of Health center that focuses on minority health concerns, works to improve work force diversity in the medical industry and collects more data to better track disparities in health care.
They said the costs of reaching into low-income, minority communities to improve upfront health care would be more than offset in the long run by preventing expensive procedures and hospital stays.
"Believe me, a comprehensive health care reform bill without the aspects that we're discussing today will be set for failure," said Rep. Nydia Velazquez, a New York Democrat who chairs the Hispanic caucus.
Later, at a discussion of minority health issues at the White House, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the Obama administration is committed to addressing the "alarming disparity in the delivery of quality health care."
Doing so, Sebelius told officials, is critical to lowering health care costs.
Sebelius noted that 75 percent of the nation's $2.2 trillion health care expenses go toward treating chronic diseases, referring to far higher rates of such diseases among minorities. She said the rising rates of HIV/AIDS among African-Americans is among "the most troubling" developments in U.S. health care.
"Minority Americans not only are more likely to be uninsured, so they don't have preventative care, don't have early intervention, but are less likely to have quality care when they come to seek the care that they need," she said.
The White House issued a summary report on minority health care showing that African-Americans are seven times more likely as whites to have HIV/AIDS, that blacks and Hispanics have diabetes rates nearly twice as high as whites, and that black men are 50 percent more likely than whites to have prostate cancer.
The report said more than one in three Hispanics and American Indians, and about one in five African-Americans, are uninsured. That compares to one in eight whites lacking coverage.
By BEN EVANS, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Black, Latino and Asian lawmakers warned Democratic leaders that any health care overhaul that ignores health gaps between whites and minorities will face stiff opposition.
The lawmakers said they would be hard-pressed to support a bill without a new program providing access to health care for all Americans.
"The public health option has to be there," Rep. Mike Honda, a California Democrat who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said at a news conference. "If we don't have a public option, there's no discussion."
Republicans are resisting a government health insurance program that would compete with private insurance companies, arguing that the companies would be put at a competitive disadvantage.
Members of the Asian caucus, along with the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said they plan to introduce legislation this week that includes their wish list for broadening health care overhaul beyond various plans floated in the House and Senate.
Citing federal research showing higher rates of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and infant mortality among minorities, they said they would seek more funds for community health centers that provide care in poor neighborhoods.
The lawmakers also called for expanding a National Institutes of Health center that focuses on minority health concerns, works to improve work force diversity in the medical industry and collects more data to better track disparities in health care.
They said the costs of reaching into low-income, minority communities to improve upfront health care would be more than offset in the long run by preventing expensive procedures and hospital stays.
"Believe me, a comprehensive health care reform bill without the aspects that we're discussing today will be set for failure," said Rep. Nydia Velazquez, a New York Democrat who chairs the Hispanic caucus.
Later, at a discussion of minority health issues at the White House, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the Obama administration is committed to addressing the "alarming disparity in the delivery of quality health care."
Doing so, Sebelius told officials, is critical to lowering health care costs.
Sebelius noted that 75 percent of the nation's $2.2 trillion health care expenses go toward treating chronic diseases, referring to far higher rates of such diseases among minorities. She said the rising rates of HIV/AIDS among African-Americans is among "the most troubling" developments in U.S. health care.
"Minority Americans not only are more likely to be uninsured, so they don't have preventative care, don't have early intervention, but are less likely to have quality care when they come to seek the care that they need," she said.
The White House issued a summary report on minority health care showing that African-Americans are seven times more likely as whites to have HIV/AIDS, that blacks and Hispanics have diabetes rates nearly twice as high as whites, and that black men are 50 percent more likely than whites to have prostate cancer.
The report said more than one in three Hispanics and American Indians, and about one in five African-Americans, are uninsured. That compares to one in eight whites lacking coverage.
Hispanic women experience disparity in health
Inequalities in women's health care in Illinois
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
A new snapshot of women’s health in Illinois describes significant inequalities for African-American and Hispanic women—a finding that’s not surprising but is troubling nonetheless.
The Illinois profile was published today by the Kaiser Family Foundation as part of a national report on racial and ethnic disparities in women’s health.
The report is based on data from two federal surveys spanning the years 2003 to 2005. It applies to women 18 to 64 years old. Though the information was collected several years ago, there’s no reason to believe the trends it describes are out of date.
The findings highlight problematic health differences for black and Hispanic women in Illinois compared with white women:
Hispanic women were four times more likely to describe themselves as being in fair or poor health (34.3 percent) than white women (8.4 percent) in Illinois.
African-American women were almost three times as likely to have cardiovascular disease (4.4 percent) as white women (1.6 percent). Cardiovascular disease includes heart attacks, angina, heart disease and stroke.
Of every 100,000 African-American women in Illinois, 217.1 died of cancer in the time period studied, compared with 165.8 white women.
Hispanic women are three times as likely to have diabetes (8.9 percent) as white women (2.8 percent).
An astonishing 36 out of every 100,000 African-American women contracted AIDS in Illinois between 2003 and 2005, compared with 1.5 white women per 100,000.
An alarming 43.7 percent of Hispanic women reported going without a dental checkup in the last two years, compared with 33.4 percent of African-Americans and 22.4 percent of whites.
More Hispanic women (34.1 percent) and African-American women (24.7 percent) lack health insurance, compared with white women (11 percent). Similarly, more than twice as many minority women in Illinois (25.8 percent) are living in poverty as white women (10.3 percent).
The source of inequalities is the usual suspects -- poverty, stress, poor education, low income, social and cultural differences and impaired access to care. Studies show attitudes about race can also play a role in medical disparities.
The disadvantages aren’t all on the minority side. White women were more likely to report serious psychological distress (16.4 percent) compared with African-Americans (13 percent) and Hispanics (11.8 percent). They were also more likely to smoke (24.4 percent) compared with minority women (16 percent) and more likely to go without routine medical checkups in the past two years (15.3 percent) than minority women (10.8 percent).
If nothing else, the data remind us of how much work remains to be done to eliminate inequality and help all women lead healthy, productive lives.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
A new snapshot of women’s health in Illinois describes significant inequalities for African-American and Hispanic women—a finding that’s not surprising but is troubling nonetheless.
The Illinois profile was published today by the Kaiser Family Foundation as part of a national report on racial and ethnic disparities in women’s health.
The report is based on data from two federal surveys spanning the years 2003 to 2005. It applies to women 18 to 64 years old. Though the information was collected several years ago, there’s no reason to believe the trends it describes are out of date.
The findings highlight problematic health differences for black and Hispanic women in Illinois compared with white women:
Hispanic women were four times more likely to describe themselves as being in fair or poor health (34.3 percent) than white women (8.4 percent) in Illinois.
African-American women were almost three times as likely to have cardiovascular disease (4.4 percent) as white women (1.6 percent). Cardiovascular disease includes heart attacks, angina, heart disease and stroke.
Of every 100,000 African-American women in Illinois, 217.1 died of cancer in the time period studied, compared with 165.8 white women.
Hispanic women are three times as likely to have diabetes (8.9 percent) as white women (2.8 percent).
An astonishing 36 out of every 100,000 African-American women contracted AIDS in Illinois between 2003 and 2005, compared with 1.5 white women per 100,000.
An alarming 43.7 percent of Hispanic women reported going without a dental checkup in the last two years, compared with 33.4 percent of African-Americans and 22.4 percent of whites.
More Hispanic women (34.1 percent) and African-American women (24.7 percent) lack health insurance, compared with white women (11 percent). Similarly, more than twice as many minority women in Illinois (25.8 percent) are living in poverty as white women (10.3 percent).
The source of inequalities is the usual suspects -- poverty, stress, poor education, low income, social and cultural differences and impaired access to care. Studies show attitudes about race can also play a role in medical disparities.
The disadvantages aren’t all on the minority side. White women were more likely to report serious psychological distress (16.4 percent) compared with African-Americans (13 percent) and Hispanics (11.8 percent). They were also more likely to smoke (24.4 percent) compared with minority women (16 percent) and more likely to go without routine medical checkups in the past two years (15.3 percent) than minority women (10.8 percent).
If nothing else, the data remind us of how much work remains to be done to eliminate inequality and help all women lead healthy, productive lives.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Latinos offered "cultural specific" treatments
Drug treatment program for Latinos wins national recognition
By Keila Torres, Connecticut Post, 06/08/2009
BRIDGEPORT -- In the 1990s, the national problem of drug abuse grew substantially.
In Connecticut, particularly Bridgeport, the problem affected Latinos disproportionately to others, said Jose Ortiz, director of the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services' Office of Multicultural Affairs. "Seventy percent were Latinos, mostly Puerto Ricans," he said.
Despite this, the numbers of Latinos seeking treatment was low. "Our folks were not banging down doors to get treatment," Ortiz said.
In response to this issue, the government afforded federal dollars for a five-year pilot program designed to provide Latinos with "cultural-specific" treatment.
"Latinos didn't seek treatment so we had to do outreach. That gave birth to Proyecto Nueva Vida [Project New Life]. What was astounding was we were able to get 1,619 new admissions into treatment that first year. That's a crazy number. It's a life-saving program," Ortiz said.
This month, PNV was selected as one of the top six programs throughout the nation for Latino mental health and addiction services by the Community Defined Evidence Project, a University of South Florida effort funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
According to the description in the university's Child and Family Studies page, the project seeks to "eliminate disparities in behavioral health for the Latino population" by "discovering and developing measurement criteria to find what really works for Latinos within the context of their own communities and culture."
From April 28 to May 1, Linda Callejas, the project director at the university, visited Bridgeport and interviewed PNV clients and staff. Through this effort, PNV will be used as a model for other projects throughout the nation and will be included in a national directory of successful programs for Latinos, Ortiz said.
PNV is funded through DHMAS and is a collaboration between three agencies -- the Co-op Center of the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, CASA Inc. and Optimus Health Care. CASA provides both outpatient and inpatient drug treatment, while Optimus offers medical and HIV treatment. Co-op gives assistance with getting IDs and job training.
All the services are provided through one intake process, instead of clients having to sign on with the agencies separately.
But PNV services don't end after with scheduled meeting or help session. The staff maintains an open-door policy and is available when needed, not just during scheduled office hours. This way, clients feel a sense of community or kinship with the staff.
"Latinos don't bond with institutions. They bond with people," Ortiz said.
The PNV staff and community residents who volunteer with the program are known to help people move into new homes, refer clients to a job and help clients with resumes. "You don't treat the condition. You treat people and they have needs," said Jose Torres, coordinator of recovery support for CASA.
PNV also provides social gatherings, like a monthly family forum, picnics, sober dances and concerts.
This year, 86 percent of the people who entered the program completed treatment.
"What we do is we basically help each other find peace with ourselves in the early stages of recovery," said Victor Rodriguez, a Stratford resident in recovery for 15 years, who participates in the PNV mentoring program, which meets once a week.
Felicita Claudio, 46, a Bridgeport resident, said she's been with the mentoring program since it started six years ago and has been free of drugs four years and counting. "There's a lot of support both on a professional level and on a personal level. I feel at home. I've been with them for so long they are my family," she said.
The staff said they hoped the exposure afforded by the national study would ensure the program attracts the attention of additional funding sources. "We've been struggling but even with a bare-bones budget, look at the results," Ortiz said.
Daisy Rodriguez, 48, from Bridgeport, who has been an addict most of her life, attended her first mentoring session last week. "I want to get better. At first, I had too much pride [to seek help], but now I don't. I like seeing the Hispanic community group together to confront this illness," she said in Spanish.
For more information about PNV, call Jose Torres at 339-4112.
By Keila Torres, Connecticut Post, 06/08/2009
BRIDGEPORT -- In the 1990s, the national problem of drug abuse grew substantially.
In Connecticut, particularly Bridgeport, the problem affected Latinos disproportionately to others, said Jose Ortiz, director of the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services' Office of Multicultural Affairs. "Seventy percent were Latinos, mostly Puerto Ricans," he said.
Despite this, the numbers of Latinos seeking treatment was low. "Our folks were not banging down doors to get treatment," Ortiz said.
In response to this issue, the government afforded federal dollars for a five-year pilot program designed to provide Latinos with "cultural-specific" treatment.
"Latinos didn't seek treatment so we had to do outreach. That gave birth to Proyecto Nueva Vida [Project New Life]. What was astounding was we were able to get 1,619 new admissions into treatment that first year. That's a crazy number. It's a life-saving program," Ortiz said.
This month, PNV was selected as one of the top six programs throughout the nation for Latino mental health and addiction services by the Community Defined Evidence Project, a University of South Florida effort funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
According to the description in the university's Child and Family Studies page, the project seeks to "eliminate disparities in behavioral health for the Latino population" by "discovering and developing measurement criteria to find what really works for Latinos within the context of their own communities and culture."
From April 28 to May 1, Linda Callejas, the project director at the university, visited Bridgeport and interviewed PNV clients and staff. Through this effort, PNV will be used as a model for other projects throughout the nation and will be included in a national directory of successful programs for Latinos, Ortiz said.
PNV is funded through DHMAS and is a collaboration between three agencies -- the Co-op Center of the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, CASA Inc. and Optimus Health Care. CASA provides both outpatient and inpatient drug treatment, while Optimus offers medical and HIV treatment. Co-op gives assistance with getting IDs and job training.
All the services are provided through one intake process, instead of clients having to sign on with the agencies separately.
But PNV services don't end after with scheduled meeting or help session. The staff maintains an open-door policy and is available when needed, not just during scheduled office hours. This way, clients feel a sense of community or kinship with the staff.
"Latinos don't bond with institutions. They bond with people," Ortiz said.
The PNV staff and community residents who volunteer with the program are known to help people move into new homes, refer clients to a job and help clients with resumes. "You don't treat the condition. You treat people and they have needs," said Jose Torres, coordinator of recovery support for CASA.
PNV also provides social gatherings, like a monthly family forum, picnics, sober dances and concerts.
This year, 86 percent of the people who entered the program completed treatment.
"What we do is we basically help each other find peace with ourselves in the early stages of recovery," said Victor Rodriguez, a Stratford resident in recovery for 15 years, who participates in the PNV mentoring program, which meets once a week.
Felicita Claudio, 46, a Bridgeport resident, said she's been with the mentoring program since it started six years ago and has been free of drugs four years and counting. "There's a lot of support both on a professional level and on a personal level. I feel at home. I've been with them for so long they are my family," she said.
The staff said they hoped the exposure afforded by the national study would ensure the program attracts the attention of additional funding sources. "We've been struggling but even with a bare-bones budget, look at the results," Ortiz said.
Daisy Rodriguez, 48, from Bridgeport, who has been an addict most of her life, attended her first mentoring session last week. "I want to get better. At first, I had too much pride [to seek help], but now I don't. I like seeing the Hispanic community group together to confront this illness," she said in Spanish.
For more information about PNV, call Jose Torres at 339-4112.
Hispanic style cheese may help fight obesity
Hispanic Cheese May Prevent Obesity
PRESS RELEASE
HOUSTON, June 4 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Hispanic style cheese known as Queso Fresco or "fresh cheese" may contribute to preventing and fighting obesity and other related health problems.
Several studies have demonstrated that eating dairy foods while consuming a low-calorie diet can work together to speed up metabolism and as a result help reduce fat and body weight.
According to these studies, adults who consumed the recommended daily intakes of calcium in dairy products while consuming a low-calorie diet tended to lose significantly more body weight and body fat than those who consumed only a balanced, reduced-calorie diet with little or no dairy foods.
The latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend children and adults consume three servings every day of calcium-rich foods, such as Queso Fresco cheese.
"Queso Fresco contains less calories, fat and cholesterol than other cheeses such as Cheddar, Mozzarella, or processed cheese products like Velveeta(R) while providing the recommended daily calcium intake," said Elizabeth Castro, VP of Sales and Marketing at Houston-based Castro Cheese Company. "It's an excellent option for those who want or need to reduce weight."
"There's great interest in exploring the benefits of Hispanic cheeses because of obesity problems that children and adults face," continued Castro.
"Fresh cheese" or Queso Fresco is one of the most commonly used ingredients of Hispanic foods, and it is becoming increasingly popular on American tables. It has a soft, mild flavor and firm but creamy consistency that puts it somewhere between ricotta, mozzarella, and white cheddar.
Hispanic cheese is one of the fastest growing food categories in the United States. Production jumped about 183% percent from 1996 to 2008, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (http://www.usda.gov/nass/).
To view the nutrient profiles for 7 types of cheese (100 gr.) taken from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) web site click the following link: Nutrition facts for 7 cheeses (http://vaquitacheese.com/cheesenutrition).
PRESS RELEASE
HOUSTON, June 4 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Hispanic style cheese known as Queso Fresco or "fresh cheese" may contribute to preventing and fighting obesity and other related health problems.
Several studies have demonstrated that eating dairy foods while consuming a low-calorie diet can work together to speed up metabolism and as a result help reduce fat and body weight.
According to these studies, adults who consumed the recommended daily intakes of calcium in dairy products while consuming a low-calorie diet tended to lose significantly more body weight and body fat than those who consumed only a balanced, reduced-calorie diet with little or no dairy foods.
The latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend children and adults consume three servings every day of calcium-rich foods, such as Queso Fresco cheese.
"Queso Fresco contains less calories, fat and cholesterol than other cheeses such as Cheddar, Mozzarella, or processed cheese products like Velveeta(R) while providing the recommended daily calcium intake," said Elizabeth Castro, VP of Sales and Marketing at Houston-based Castro Cheese Company. "It's an excellent option for those who want or need to reduce weight."
"There's great interest in exploring the benefits of Hispanic cheeses because of obesity problems that children and adults face," continued Castro.
"Fresh cheese" or Queso Fresco is one of the most commonly used ingredients of Hispanic foods, and it is becoming increasingly popular on American tables. It has a soft, mild flavor and firm but creamy consistency that puts it somewhere between ricotta, mozzarella, and white cheddar.
Hispanic cheese is one of the fastest growing food categories in the United States. Production jumped about 183% percent from 1996 to 2008, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (http://www.usda.gov/nass/).
To view the nutrient profiles for 7 types of cheese (100 gr.) taken from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) web site click the following link: Nutrition facts for 7 cheeses (http://vaquitacheese.com/cheesenutrition).
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Hispanic women should take multivitamins
North Carolina Hispanic women do not take multivitamins despite increased risk of serious birth defects
Dbusinessnews.com, June 4, 2009
Raleigh, NC – A recent statewide study conducted by the North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign and published by the American Journal of Health Education revealed that only one-third of Hispanic women took a daily multivitamin with folic acid. These findings are important because Hispanics have a significantly higher risk of having a baby affected by a birth defect of the brain (anencephaly) or spine (spina bifida). According to public health experts, all women of childbearing age should take a daily multivitamin with folic acid, to reduce their risk of having a baby with these birth defects. This recommendation is especially important for Hispanics because their risk is double that of non-Hispanic whites and blacks.
As part of the study, in 2006, the North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign administered a survey to foreign-born Hispanic women ages 18-35 in 12 randomly selected counties throughout the state. The study results confirm that Hispanic women in North Carolina lack awareness about the importance of multivitamins and folic acid. Less than one-quarter of the respondents knew that multivitamins or folic acid should be taken before pregnancy and only 20 percent knew that folic acid was good for the development of the brain and spine of fetuses.
Established research shows that up to 70 percent of birth defects of the brain and spine, known as neural tube defects (NTD), may be prevented with adequate folic acid intake before and during the early weeks of pregnancy. Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin found in multivitamins and fortified foods.
The survey also found several myths about multivitamins in the Hispanic community. Hispanic women believe that multivitamins are expensive, are only needed for pregnant women, and can cause weight gain and/or increase their appetite. These myths can create significant barriers and challenges for Hispanic women in starting a daily multivitamin habit. Furthermore, these barriers may contribute to the low vitamin consumption among Hispanic women in North Carolina. In reality, vitamins are inexpensive and only cost pennies a day. It is also clear that women need to take a daily multivitamin regardless of their pregnancy intentions. Currently no research exists to prove or disprove the belief about weight gain and/or increased appetite from a multivitamin.
Although this study confirmed earlier findings regarding multivitamin knowledge and behaviors, it was unique because it offered insights into a population that is rarely surveyed in such a comprehensive way. The combination of an anonymous face-to-face survey in Spanish and the use of native Spanish-speaking data collectors produced a high level of participant comfort with the survey, thereby allowing the North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign to survey approximately one percent of the total population of Spanish-speaking foreign-born women 18-35 in North Carolina.
This study also highlighted the important role of health care providers in educating Hispanic women about multivitamins, folic acid and birth defects. Ninety-nine percent of respondents who did not take a daily multivitamin reported that they would do so upon the recommendation of their health care providers (vs. 88 percent of all women of childbearing age nationally).
“This is good news for the health care community. Health care providers play a critical role in increasing knowledge and influencing behavior to increase the consumption of multivitamins among Hispanic women,” said Leslie deRosset, MPH, Latino Campaign Coordinator and lead author of the study. “They should be prepared at every available opportunity to counsel women about their risk and the potential benefits of preconceptional folic acid consumption.”
The article, “Multivitamins, Folic Acid and Birth Defects: Knowledge, Beliefs and Behaviors of Hispanic Women in North Carolina,” was published in the May/June issue of the American Journal of Health Education. This is the first time the NC Folic Acid Campaign has been published in a peer-reviewed publication.
For more information about the results of this study, please contact Leslie deRosset, MPH, at 919-424-2149 or lderosset@marchofdimes.com. The North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign is a collaboration between the North Carolina Folic Acid Council and the March of Dimes. Membership in our Council is free. Visit www.getfolic.com for more information.
Dbusinessnews.com, June 4, 2009
Raleigh, NC – A recent statewide study conducted by the North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign and published by the American Journal of Health Education revealed that only one-third of Hispanic women took a daily multivitamin with folic acid. These findings are important because Hispanics have a significantly higher risk of having a baby affected by a birth defect of the brain (anencephaly) or spine (spina bifida). According to public health experts, all women of childbearing age should take a daily multivitamin with folic acid, to reduce their risk of having a baby with these birth defects. This recommendation is especially important for Hispanics because their risk is double that of non-Hispanic whites and blacks.
As part of the study, in 2006, the North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign administered a survey to foreign-born Hispanic women ages 18-35 in 12 randomly selected counties throughout the state. The study results confirm that Hispanic women in North Carolina lack awareness about the importance of multivitamins and folic acid. Less than one-quarter of the respondents knew that multivitamins or folic acid should be taken before pregnancy and only 20 percent knew that folic acid was good for the development of the brain and spine of fetuses.
Established research shows that up to 70 percent of birth defects of the brain and spine, known as neural tube defects (NTD), may be prevented with adequate folic acid intake before and during the early weeks of pregnancy. Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin found in multivitamins and fortified foods.
The survey also found several myths about multivitamins in the Hispanic community. Hispanic women believe that multivitamins are expensive, are only needed for pregnant women, and can cause weight gain and/or increase their appetite. These myths can create significant barriers and challenges for Hispanic women in starting a daily multivitamin habit. Furthermore, these barriers may contribute to the low vitamin consumption among Hispanic women in North Carolina. In reality, vitamins are inexpensive and only cost pennies a day. It is also clear that women need to take a daily multivitamin regardless of their pregnancy intentions. Currently no research exists to prove or disprove the belief about weight gain and/or increased appetite from a multivitamin.
Although this study confirmed earlier findings regarding multivitamin knowledge and behaviors, it was unique because it offered insights into a population that is rarely surveyed in such a comprehensive way. The combination of an anonymous face-to-face survey in Spanish and the use of native Spanish-speaking data collectors produced a high level of participant comfort with the survey, thereby allowing the North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign to survey approximately one percent of the total population of Spanish-speaking foreign-born women 18-35 in North Carolina.
This study also highlighted the important role of health care providers in educating Hispanic women about multivitamins, folic acid and birth defects. Ninety-nine percent of respondents who did not take a daily multivitamin reported that they would do so upon the recommendation of their health care providers (vs. 88 percent of all women of childbearing age nationally).
“This is good news for the health care community. Health care providers play a critical role in increasing knowledge and influencing behavior to increase the consumption of multivitamins among Hispanic women,” said Leslie deRosset, MPH, Latino Campaign Coordinator and lead author of the study. “They should be prepared at every available opportunity to counsel women about their risk and the potential benefits of preconceptional folic acid consumption.”
The article, “Multivitamins, Folic Acid and Birth Defects: Knowledge, Beliefs and Behaviors of Hispanic Women in North Carolina,” was published in the May/June issue of the American Journal of Health Education. This is the first time the NC Folic Acid Campaign has been published in a peer-reviewed publication.
For more information about the results of this study, please contact Leslie deRosset, MPH, at 919-424-2149 or lderosset@marchofdimes.com. The North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign is a collaboration between the North Carolina Folic Acid Council and the March of Dimes. Membership in our Council is free. Visit www.getfolic.com for more information.
Tourette's not common among Latinos
How Common Is Tourette's Syndrome?
Neurological Disorder Affects Three Out of Every 1,000 Children, Boys More Often Than Girls
By Bill Hendrick, WebMD Health News
June 4, 2009 -- Tourette's syndrome afflicts three out of every 1,000 children between ages 6 and 17 in the United States, the CDC says in its first-ever estimate of the prevalence of the neurological disorder.
The findings are revealed in the June 5 edition of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
According to the MMWR study, Tourette's syndrome is three times more common in boys than in girls, and about twice as common in children 12 to 17 as in those 6 to 11.
Twenty-seven percent of children with Tourette's syndrome have moderate or severe cases, the study says, and 79% of youngsters who have it also have been diagnosed with at least one additional mental health or neurodevelopmental condition.
Tourette's syndrome typically starts in childhood and is characterized by recurring multiple motor tics, and at least one vocal tic. Symptoms are generally most severe between 10 and 12 years of age and lessen by adulthood.
These are involuntary, repetitive, stereotyped, usually sudden and rapid movements or vocalizations that may be suppressed for short periods of time, the CDC report says.
“TS [Tourette's syndrome] and tic disorders have been linked to higher rates of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and impairments associated with these conditions, such as learning disabilities and problems with peer relations,” says Rebecca Bitsko, MD, health scientist at the CDC, in a news release.
She says because so many children with Tourette's also have other neurological or mental health problems, the relationship between the conditions warrant further study.
Non-Hispanic white children were more than twice as likely as non-Hispanic black children or Hispanic children to have a parent-reported case of Tourette's syndrome.
“Having an estimate of the number of U.S. children who are diagnosed with TS is a first step toward understanding the overall impact of this condition in the population,” Bitsko says. “Further research must examine differences in access to health care for children with TS in different population groups, the impact of TS on the quality of life, long-term outcomes for children with TS, and strategies for reducing the impact of conditions associated with TS.”
Researchers examined National Survey of Children’s Health data from parents or guardians for 64,034 children 6-17 years old between April 2007 and July 2008.
The NSCH was the first large, national, population-based survey of U.S. children less than 18 years old that included questions about Tourette's syndrome.
Neurological Disorder Affects Three Out of Every 1,000 Children, Boys More Often Than Girls
By Bill Hendrick, WebMD Health News
June 4, 2009 -- Tourette's syndrome afflicts three out of every 1,000 children between ages 6 and 17 in the United States, the CDC says in its first-ever estimate of the prevalence of the neurological disorder.
The findings are revealed in the June 5 edition of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
According to the MMWR study, Tourette's syndrome is three times more common in boys than in girls, and about twice as common in children 12 to 17 as in those 6 to 11.
Twenty-seven percent of children with Tourette's syndrome have moderate or severe cases, the study says, and 79% of youngsters who have it also have been diagnosed with at least one additional mental health or neurodevelopmental condition.
Tourette's syndrome typically starts in childhood and is characterized by recurring multiple motor tics, and at least one vocal tic. Symptoms are generally most severe between 10 and 12 years of age and lessen by adulthood.
These are involuntary, repetitive, stereotyped, usually sudden and rapid movements or vocalizations that may be suppressed for short periods of time, the CDC report says.
“TS [Tourette's syndrome] and tic disorders have been linked to higher rates of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and impairments associated with these conditions, such as learning disabilities and problems with peer relations,” says Rebecca Bitsko, MD, health scientist at the CDC, in a news release.
She says because so many children with Tourette's also have other neurological or mental health problems, the relationship between the conditions warrant further study.
Non-Hispanic white children were more than twice as likely as non-Hispanic black children or Hispanic children to have a parent-reported case of Tourette's syndrome.
“Having an estimate of the number of U.S. children who are diagnosed with TS is a first step toward understanding the overall impact of this condition in the population,” Bitsko says. “Further research must examine differences in access to health care for children with TS in different population groups, the impact of TS on the quality of life, long-term outcomes for children with TS, and strategies for reducing the impact of conditions associated with TS.”
Researchers examined National Survey of Children’s Health data from parents or guardians for 64,034 children 6-17 years old between April 2007 and July 2008.
The NSCH was the first large, national, population-based survey of U.S. children less than 18 years old that included questions about Tourette's syndrome.
Latino depressed husbands impact wives
In Latino seniors, depressed husband equals slower, more forgetful wife
LA Times, June 3, 2009
Couples long together often end up sharing each other's quirks, clothes and mannerisms, leading researchers to wonder whether depression in one half of a couple also can degrade the other's mental functioning over time.
If older Latino couples are typical -- and researchers suspect that in this case they are -- the answer is yes. And no.
Yes, if the husband is depressed -- in which case his wife is more likely to show a decline in cognitive performance than a woman whose husband is not depressed. But a husband whose wife is depressed appears to be mentally none the worse, according to an eight-year study of Latino couples in the Sacramento area. Funded by the National Institute of Aging, the study is published in the latest issue of the journal Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders.
One might guess that a withdrawn, uncommunicative spouse might well leave the other half of a married couple more lonely and isolated -- factors that are strongly linked to mental decline. But why would wives be affected this way but husbands not? Researchers surmise that women might be more emotionally attuned to their spouse's mental state and more likely to mirror some aspects of a husband's emotional changes than the reverse. They suggested, too, that in Latino families, a woman's strong sense of responsibility for her family's well-being might mean that she shoulders some of her husband's emotional pain and pays for that intellectually.
The study followed 279 Sacramento-area Latino couples, 60 years of age and older, for as many as eight years. Researchers measured levels of intellectual functioning, depression and several other variables in each member of these couples ever 12 to 18 months. It was part of a larger study called SALSA -- for Sacramento Area Longitudinal Study of Aging.
"There's no reason to think the results are unique to the Latino community," said Dr. Ladson Hinton, professor of psychiatry at UC Irvine, one of the study's authors. But he said future research should aim to see whether that pattern holds for other ethnicities, and to explore what other factors -- including the quality of a marriage -- contribute to psychological contagion among longstanding couples.
Depression in men -- and Latino men in particular -- is thought to be greatly under-recognized, possibly because shame and cultural norms make it harder for men to seek help for their condition. That's why the National Institute on Mental Health has pulled together a resource page for men who feel they may be depressed and their families. And they're all available in Spanish too.
-- Melissa Healy
LA Times, June 3, 2009
Couples long together often end up sharing each other's quirks, clothes and mannerisms, leading researchers to wonder whether depression in one half of a couple also can degrade the other's mental functioning over time.
If older Latino couples are typical -- and researchers suspect that in this case they are -- the answer is yes. And no.
Yes, if the husband is depressed -- in which case his wife is more likely to show a decline in cognitive performance than a woman whose husband is not depressed. But a husband whose wife is depressed appears to be mentally none the worse, according to an eight-year study of Latino couples in the Sacramento area. Funded by the National Institute of Aging, the study is published in the latest issue of the journal Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders.
One might guess that a withdrawn, uncommunicative spouse might well leave the other half of a married couple more lonely and isolated -- factors that are strongly linked to mental decline. But why would wives be affected this way but husbands not? Researchers surmise that women might be more emotionally attuned to their spouse's mental state and more likely to mirror some aspects of a husband's emotional changes than the reverse. They suggested, too, that in Latino families, a woman's strong sense of responsibility for her family's well-being might mean that she shoulders some of her husband's emotional pain and pays for that intellectually.
The study followed 279 Sacramento-area Latino couples, 60 years of age and older, for as many as eight years. Researchers measured levels of intellectual functioning, depression and several other variables in each member of these couples ever 12 to 18 months. It was part of a larger study called SALSA -- for Sacramento Area Longitudinal Study of Aging.
"There's no reason to think the results are unique to the Latino community," said Dr. Ladson Hinton, professor of psychiatry at UC Irvine, one of the study's authors. But he said future research should aim to see whether that pattern holds for other ethnicities, and to explore what other factors -- including the quality of a marriage -- contribute to psychological contagion among longstanding couples.
Depression in men -- and Latino men in particular -- is thought to be greatly under-recognized, possibly because shame and cultural norms make it harder for men to seek help for their condition. That's why the National Institute on Mental Health has pulled together a resource page for men who feel they may be depressed and their families. And they're all available in Spanish too.
-- Melissa Healy
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Hispanic kids heaviest among all ethnic groups
Hispanic children are getting most nutrients, but eating too much fat
LA TIMES, June 2, 2009
The Hispanic community has its own set of health challenges, including high rates of diabetes, plus kidney and cardiovascular disease. Children aren't immune -- according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, from 2005 through 2006 Mexican American children age 2 through 19 were the heaviest among all ethnic and racial groups in the U.S.
Just how their diets break down is the subject of a study in the June issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Assn., which analyzed the nutrition quality in diets of 1,030 normal weight and overweight Hispanic children age 4 to 19 in Houston who had low socioeconomic status. Quality was assessed using the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, published jointly by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture.
Overall, the diets of all children were adequate in most nutrients, but often surpassed the guidelines for total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and added sugar and salt. Looking more closely at the foods the kids ate, 68% of calories came primarily from soda, desserts, pizza, chips, fruit drinks, fruit juice, processed meats and burgers. About one-fourth of the children went over the maximum intake level of 25% for added sugars.
All kids came up short on fruits and vegetables -- the average number of servings they ate was lower than the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation. They also fell below standards on consumption of vitamins E and D, pantothenic acid, calcium, potassium and fiber.
Several factors put the Hispanic population at higher risk for obesity. In this study, 91% of parents were overweight or obese, and parents' income and education levels were low. Other issues reported in the NHANES study include limited health insurance coverage, acculturation to American diet and lifestyle, recent immigration, and access to medical care.
Researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine wrote in this study: "Knowledge of the dietary intake of children from low-[socioeconomic status] Hispanic families at high risk for obesity will provide a basis on which to build nutritional interventions and policy that are appropriately tailored to population subgroups."
LA TIMES, June 2, 2009
The Hispanic community has its own set of health challenges, including high rates of diabetes, plus kidney and cardiovascular disease. Children aren't immune -- according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, from 2005 through 2006 Mexican American children age 2 through 19 were the heaviest among all ethnic and racial groups in the U.S.
Just how their diets break down is the subject of a study in the June issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Assn., which analyzed the nutrition quality in diets of 1,030 normal weight and overweight Hispanic children age 4 to 19 in Houston who had low socioeconomic status. Quality was assessed using the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, published jointly by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture.
Overall, the diets of all children were adequate in most nutrients, but often surpassed the guidelines for total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and added sugar and salt. Looking more closely at the foods the kids ate, 68% of calories came primarily from soda, desserts, pizza, chips, fruit drinks, fruit juice, processed meats and burgers. About one-fourth of the children went over the maximum intake level of 25% for added sugars.
All kids came up short on fruits and vegetables -- the average number of servings they ate was lower than the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation. They also fell below standards on consumption of vitamins E and D, pantothenic acid, calcium, potassium and fiber.
Several factors put the Hispanic population at higher risk for obesity. In this study, 91% of parents were overweight or obese, and parents' income and education levels were low. Other issues reported in the NHANES study include limited health insurance coverage, acculturation to American diet and lifestyle, recent immigration, and access to medical care.
Researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine wrote in this study: "Knowledge of the dietary intake of children from low-[socioeconomic status] Hispanic families at high risk for obesity will provide a basis on which to build nutritional interventions and policy that are appropriately tailored to population subgroups."
Colon cancer rising among Hispanics
Colon cancer incidence among Hispanic immigrants increased after acculturation
Hemonc Today
Results of a study involving Hispanic immigrants showed that their rates of colon cancer increased as they became more accustomed to life in the United States, and particularly as they adopted a high-fat Western diet.
“Acculturation was a significant independent predictor of colon cancer, and it was associated with certain dietary profiles like increased fat content from pastries and decreased milk consumption,” said Neal Joseph, MD, of the New York University School of Medicine. Joseph presented the results at Digestive Disease Week 2009 in Chicago.
Researchers enrolled 807 self-identified Hispanics referred for screening colonoscopy at New York University School of Medicine. Most patients, 93%, were immigrants who had been in the United States for an average of 28 years. The researchers administered a validated acculturation survey along with a standardized dietary habit assessment to a subset of patients.
The prevalence of adenomas was higher among the acculturated patients compared with the non-acculturated patients (25% vs. 11%, P=.046). Among the dietary factors assessed, acculturated Hispanics were more likely to consume pastries (72% vs. 55%, P=.047) and less likely to drink milk (69% vs. 86%, P=.036). After controlling for age, gender, BMI and number of years in the United States, Joseph said acculturation remained a significant predictor for disease (OR=4.5; 95% CI, 1.2-1.8).
“It’s a product of the Westernized diet,” he said. “We can’t simply say that it’s these two things that cause increased colorectal cancer risk, but it’s a study that can show that they are linked, and we need more studies with larger sample sizes to show this link.” – by Jason Harris
Hemonc Today
Results of a study involving Hispanic immigrants showed that their rates of colon cancer increased as they became more accustomed to life in the United States, and particularly as they adopted a high-fat Western diet.
“Acculturation was a significant independent predictor of colon cancer, and it was associated with certain dietary profiles like increased fat content from pastries and decreased milk consumption,” said Neal Joseph, MD, of the New York University School of Medicine. Joseph presented the results at Digestive Disease Week 2009 in Chicago.
Researchers enrolled 807 self-identified Hispanics referred for screening colonoscopy at New York University School of Medicine. Most patients, 93%, were immigrants who had been in the United States for an average of 28 years. The researchers administered a validated acculturation survey along with a standardized dietary habit assessment to a subset of patients.
The prevalence of adenomas was higher among the acculturated patients compared with the non-acculturated patients (25% vs. 11%, P=.046). Among the dietary factors assessed, acculturated Hispanics were more likely to consume pastries (72% vs. 55%, P=.047) and less likely to drink milk (69% vs. 86%, P=.036). After controlling for age, gender, BMI and number of years in the United States, Joseph said acculturation remained a significant predictor for disease (OR=4.5; 95% CI, 1.2-1.8).
“It’s a product of the Westernized diet,” he said. “We can’t simply say that it’s these two things that cause increased colorectal cancer risk, but it’s a study that can show that they are linked, and we need more studies with larger sample sizes to show this link.” – by Jason Harris
Hispanics encouraged to take care of teeth
Hispanic Dental Association and Oral Health America Celebrate National Smile Month, June 1-30
PRESS RELEASE
CHICAGO, June 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- June is National Smile Month, and the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA), Oral Health America, and participating sponsors, dental offices, community care providers, schools, and camps are encouraging children and adults not to forget their toothbrushes on summer vacation. National Smile Month promotes the importance of:
Brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
Visiting a dental care provider as often as they recommend
Choosing healthy foods for a tooth-friendly and nutritious diet
"We welcome everyone's involvement in this effort to ensure that families and caregivers understand the importance of caring for our mouth as a part of every family's daily routine," said Beth Truett, President and CEO, Oral Health America.
Participation in National Smile Month can include sharing the campaign messages with family and friends, or challenging your children to a two-minute "brushing contest" to see who comes the closest in brushing their teeth for two minutes without a timer! Enter the Healthy Smile Contest, and share your photos and stories at http://www.oralhealthamerica.org.
"Oral health should be a critical and integral component of overall total health," said Francisco Ramos-Gomez, DDS, MS, MPH, President of the Hispanic Dental Association. "With a special focus for the young, pregnant, elderly, and people with special needs, this means taking the time to help them maintain a healthy mouth in a healthy body."
National Smile Month will be launched at the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore, MD, on June 5th. The National Museum of Dentistry offers a fun and educational online tool in Spanish to teach kids about brushing and flossing, avoiding tobacco, and eating healthy, at http://www.MouthPower.org.
The Hispanic Dental Association, formed in 1990, is the only national organization of dental professionals dedicated to promoting and improving the oral health of the Hispanic community and providing advocacy for Hispanic oral health professionals across the United States. Find out more at http://www.hdassoc.org.
Oral Health America is the nation's leading, independent organization dedicated to eliminating oral disease. National Smile Month is sponsored by Patterson Dental, Dental Trade Alliance Foundation, UnitedHealthcare Dental, and other dental industry leaders. A simultaneous campaign runs in the United Kingdom through the International Dental Health Foundation.
Visit http://www.oralhealthamerica.org for more information.
PRESS RELEASE
CHICAGO, June 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- June is National Smile Month, and the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA), Oral Health America, and participating sponsors, dental offices, community care providers, schools, and camps are encouraging children and adults not to forget their toothbrushes on summer vacation. National Smile Month promotes the importance of:
Brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
Visiting a dental care provider as often as they recommend
Choosing healthy foods for a tooth-friendly and nutritious diet
"We welcome everyone's involvement in this effort to ensure that families and caregivers understand the importance of caring for our mouth as a part of every family's daily routine," said Beth Truett, President and CEO, Oral Health America.
Participation in National Smile Month can include sharing the campaign messages with family and friends, or challenging your children to a two-minute "brushing contest" to see who comes the closest in brushing their teeth for two minutes without a timer! Enter the Healthy Smile Contest, and share your photos and stories at http://www.oralhealthamerica.org.
"Oral health should be a critical and integral component of overall total health," said Francisco Ramos-Gomez, DDS, MS, MPH, President of the Hispanic Dental Association. "With a special focus for the young, pregnant, elderly, and people with special needs, this means taking the time to help them maintain a healthy mouth in a healthy body."
National Smile Month will be launched at the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore, MD, on June 5th. The National Museum of Dentistry offers a fun and educational online tool in Spanish to teach kids about brushing and flossing, avoiding tobacco, and eating healthy, at http://www.MouthPower.org.
The Hispanic Dental Association, formed in 1990, is the only national organization of dental professionals dedicated to promoting and improving the oral health of the Hispanic community and providing advocacy for Hispanic oral health professionals across the United States. Find out more at http://www.hdassoc.org.
Oral Health America is the nation's leading, independent organization dedicated to eliminating oral disease. National Smile Month is sponsored by Patterson Dental, Dental Trade Alliance Foundation, UnitedHealthcare Dental, and other dental industry leaders. A simultaneous campaign runs in the United Kingdom through the International Dental Health Foundation.
Visit http://www.oralhealthamerica.org for more information.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Latino parents of autistic child feel alone
For Latino parents, raising autistic child has complex barriers
By Liz Mineo/Metrowest Daily News May 30, 2009
Six weeks ago, the Ortizes read in the local paper about a talk in Spanish for Latino parents of children with autism held at the library in downtown Framingham.
They were thrilled.
Since they moved to Framingham from their native Puerto Rico in 1998 looking for help for their then- 3-year-old daughter Yamilex, they have yearned to connect with other Latino parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
They were disappointed when they realized they were the only ones who attended the talk on April 5.
It has been that way for the Ortizes, they said. For the past 10 years, they are often the only Latinos in support groups for families of children with ASD. And because Yamilex's mother, Judith, 46, doesn't speak English, they don't attend support groups. Yamilex's father, Tomas, 59, learned English when he was growing up in New York City, but he, too, feels lonely.
"It's hard when you're alone," said Tomas in their Beaver Terrace Circle apartment. "You want to find other people like you to relate to them and help each other out. It'd be less hard."
Finding Latino parents of children with ASD is not easy. Mauricio Perea, a special education assistant teacher with the Framingham School District, gave the April talk to break the isolation in which they live due to language and cultural hurdles.
"They face so many barriers that it's harder for them to look for help for their children," said Perea. "One of my goals is to help them find the resources to help their children improve their lives."
Nearly 1.5 million Americans have ASD, but nobody knows how many are Latinos. Experts said that as the Latino population keeps growing, the condition may be more prevalent among them in years to come. Experts also said Latino children with autism tend to be diagnosed later than non-Hispanic children.
Advocates already report an increasing demand for information in Spanish about ASD, but if the language barrier can be overcome with Spanish pages in their Web sites and more Spanish-speaking workers, cultural barriers continue to be challenging.
"In other cultures, there is shame involved with special education needs and a stigma associated with autism, and some families are hesitant to ask for help," said Jennifer Repella, director of programs for the Maryland-based Autism Society of America. "It has to happen both ways. Organizations should be aware that the need is out there and provide information, but families need to act, call and ask for help."
In the Bay State, Massachusetts Advocates for Children has offered workshops for Latino and Haitian parents of children with autism to help them get over cultural, linguistic, and literacy barriers and make them better advocates for their children's needs in the public schools. Three years ago, the group started a project in Lawrence serving 25 Latino families, said senior project director Julia Landau. It's the right thing to do, she said.
"Latino families cannot participate the same way other families do in making decisions that will affect their children's well-being," she said. "There is a real need to provide help to Latino parents and address cultural barriers they face."
Early diagnosis and intervention is crucial to help children with ASD develop their potential and better their outcomes. In Yamilex's case, her parents didn't wait long. After Yamilex turned 2, they noticed she wasn't talking, making eye contact or showing interest in other children. They took her to several doctors in Puerto Rico, who couldn't diagnose her condition. In Boston, Yamilex was diagnosed with autism in her first appointment.
She was 3 1/2, and soon after that, she started receiving special education services. Navigating the school's special education system was overwhelming in the beginning, her parents said.
"It's hard when you don't know what kind of services you can get," Tomas said.
Yamilex, who just turned 14, goes to Ashland Middle School, where she attends a special education class taught by teachers from ACCEPT Education Collaborative, a group that provides special education services to 14 different school districts in the region. At home, Emily Stahl, a home-based education teacher with ACCEPT, helps Yamilex with school homework, behavior management and problem-solving skills.
"She's fantastic," said Stahl of Yamilex. "She's very smart and wants to be very independent. She's always happy, always smiling and laughing, but she seems to have difficulties managing her own behavior."
Yamilex has tantrums, a common episode among children with ASD. During her outbursts, she hits the walls with her fists or head, breaks lamps and throws computer monitors and other pieces of furniture on the floor. Other times, she hits her mother and father or bites her own hands out of frustration. Her parents had to learn to live with her tantrums, but it's not easy. Stahl is working with Yamilex on how to express her feelings.
"I used to go to work with bruises on my arms and scratches on my face," said Tomas. "My co-workers would ask me if I had an argument with my wife. They wouldn't believe me when I told them it was my daughter."
Yamilex's developmental age is 8 years old, said her dad. Her favorite pastime is lining up her 75 Barbie dolls on the floor, something she can do for hours. She loves music and dancing and can read and write, add and subtract, but her language and communication skills still lag behind.
On a recent morning, Yamilex was sitting in the living room watching television and listening to her iPod, where she has songs by Shakira, Britney Spears, Rihanna and others. From time to time, she would laugh and smile without looking at anyone in particular.
Yamilex's parents have learned to accept her. "To me, it's not a handicap," said Tomas. "It's a condition, and she's a pretty happy child. She has her own way of doing things. If I see her smiling, that makes my day and recharges my batteries."
Though they worry about the future, the Ortizes try to live in the present. Their desire to connect with other Latino parents of children with ASD is still great, not only to build friendships, but also to help other Latino children improve their lives.
"People shouldn't feel they're alone," said Judith.
In the meantime, Judith and her husband find comfort in watching their daughter's progress over the years. Yamilex showers and dresses by herself, has been toilet-trained since age 4, and can play computer games. Though she still doesn't interact with others, she makes eye contact more frequently. Judith has been relishing a recent development. In general, Yamilex doesn't like to be touched, but lately she lets her mother hug her.
"And sometimes, she hugs me and kisses me," said Judith. "And one time, she told me 'I love you.' I told her 'I love you, too."'
By Liz Mineo/Metrowest Daily News May 30, 2009
Six weeks ago, the Ortizes read in the local paper about a talk in Spanish for Latino parents of children with autism held at the library in downtown Framingham.
They were thrilled.
Since they moved to Framingham from their native Puerto Rico in 1998 looking for help for their then- 3-year-old daughter Yamilex, they have yearned to connect with other Latino parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
They were disappointed when they realized they were the only ones who attended the talk on April 5.
It has been that way for the Ortizes, they said. For the past 10 years, they are often the only Latinos in support groups for families of children with ASD. And because Yamilex's mother, Judith, 46, doesn't speak English, they don't attend support groups. Yamilex's father, Tomas, 59, learned English when he was growing up in New York City, but he, too, feels lonely.
"It's hard when you're alone," said Tomas in their Beaver Terrace Circle apartment. "You want to find other people like you to relate to them and help each other out. It'd be less hard."
Finding Latino parents of children with ASD is not easy. Mauricio Perea, a special education assistant teacher with the Framingham School District, gave the April talk to break the isolation in which they live due to language and cultural hurdles.
"They face so many barriers that it's harder for them to look for help for their children," said Perea. "One of my goals is to help them find the resources to help their children improve their lives."
Nearly 1.5 million Americans have ASD, but nobody knows how many are Latinos. Experts said that as the Latino population keeps growing, the condition may be more prevalent among them in years to come. Experts also said Latino children with autism tend to be diagnosed later than non-Hispanic children.
Advocates already report an increasing demand for information in Spanish about ASD, but if the language barrier can be overcome with Spanish pages in their Web sites and more Spanish-speaking workers, cultural barriers continue to be challenging.
"In other cultures, there is shame involved with special education needs and a stigma associated with autism, and some families are hesitant to ask for help," said Jennifer Repella, director of programs for the Maryland-based Autism Society of America. "It has to happen both ways. Organizations should be aware that the need is out there and provide information, but families need to act, call and ask for help."
In the Bay State, Massachusetts Advocates for Children has offered workshops for Latino and Haitian parents of children with autism to help them get over cultural, linguistic, and literacy barriers and make them better advocates for their children's needs in the public schools. Three years ago, the group started a project in Lawrence serving 25 Latino families, said senior project director Julia Landau. It's the right thing to do, she said.
"Latino families cannot participate the same way other families do in making decisions that will affect their children's well-being," she said. "There is a real need to provide help to Latino parents and address cultural barriers they face."
Early diagnosis and intervention is crucial to help children with ASD develop their potential and better their outcomes. In Yamilex's case, her parents didn't wait long. After Yamilex turned 2, they noticed she wasn't talking, making eye contact or showing interest in other children. They took her to several doctors in Puerto Rico, who couldn't diagnose her condition. In Boston, Yamilex was diagnosed with autism in her first appointment.
She was 3 1/2, and soon after that, she started receiving special education services. Navigating the school's special education system was overwhelming in the beginning, her parents said.
"It's hard when you don't know what kind of services you can get," Tomas said.
Yamilex, who just turned 14, goes to Ashland Middle School, where she attends a special education class taught by teachers from ACCEPT Education Collaborative, a group that provides special education services to 14 different school districts in the region. At home, Emily Stahl, a home-based education teacher with ACCEPT, helps Yamilex with school homework, behavior management and problem-solving skills.
"She's fantastic," said Stahl of Yamilex. "She's very smart and wants to be very independent. She's always happy, always smiling and laughing, but she seems to have difficulties managing her own behavior."
Yamilex has tantrums, a common episode among children with ASD. During her outbursts, she hits the walls with her fists or head, breaks lamps and throws computer monitors and other pieces of furniture on the floor. Other times, she hits her mother and father or bites her own hands out of frustration. Her parents had to learn to live with her tantrums, but it's not easy. Stahl is working with Yamilex on how to express her feelings.
"I used to go to work with bruises on my arms and scratches on my face," said Tomas. "My co-workers would ask me if I had an argument with my wife. They wouldn't believe me when I told them it was my daughter."
Yamilex's developmental age is 8 years old, said her dad. Her favorite pastime is lining up her 75 Barbie dolls on the floor, something she can do for hours. She loves music and dancing and can read and write, add and subtract, but her language and communication skills still lag behind.
On a recent morning, Yamilex was sitting in the living room watching television and listening to her iPod, where she has songs by Shakira, Britney Spears, Rihanna and others. From time to time, she would laugh and smile without looking at anyone in particular.
Yamilex's parents have learned to accept her. "To me, it's not a handicap," said Tomas. "It's a condition, and she's a pretty happy child. She has her own way of doing things. If I see her smiling, that makes my day and recharges my batteries."
Though they worry about the future, the Ortizes try to live in the present. Their desire to connect with other Latino parents of children with ASD is still great, not only to build friendships, but also to help other Latino children improve their lives.
"People shouldn't feel they're alone," said Judith.
In the meantime, Judith and her husband find comfort in watching their daughter's progress over the years. Yamilex showers and dresses by herself, has been toilet-trained since age 4, and can play computer games. Though she still doesn't interact with others, she makes eye contact more frequently. Judith has been relishing a recent development. In general, Yamilex doesn't like to be touched, but lately she lets her mother hug her.
"And sometimes, she hugs me and kisses me," said Judith. "And one time, she told me 'I love you.' I told her 'I love you, too."'
Latino patients given English only medicine labels
Pharmacies not regularly translating labels for Latinos
Kristi King, WTOP.com, May 29, 2009
A new study finds that 44 percent of pharmacies in counties where more than a quarter of the population is Latino don't translate medicine labels and information into Spanish.
Northwestern University conducted a survey of pharmacies across four states.
"It's a major, major concern," says Stacy Bailey, a clinical research associate with Northwestern. Bailey says many chain pharmacies use software that can translate the information, but pharmacists don't know how to use the software.
"They {Pharmacists} themselves can't read it," Bailey says. "How can they verify that what they are putting on the label is accurate and correct?"
Bailey says the university has conducted studies showing that English-speaking people have difficulty understanding how to take their medication based on English instructions.
"So you can imagine for a person who doesn't even speak English; getting an English instruction is that much more difficult to understand."
One city is taking action. New York City Council is considering legislation that would require all chain pharmacies to council patients in a patient's native language, and well was translate all labels.
"They just weren't using the technology," says Nisha Agerwal, Director of Health Justice Program for the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.
There has been no timetable set for the legislation.
Kristi King, WTOP.com, May 29, 2009
A new study finds that 44 percent of pharmacies in counties where more than a quarter of the population is Latino don't translate medicine labels and information into Spanish.
Northwestern University conducted a survey of pharmacies across four states.
"It's a major, major concern," says Stacy Bailey, a clinical research associate with Northwestern. Bailey says many chain pharmacies use software that can translate the information, but pharmacists don't know how to use the software.
"They {Pharmacists} themselves can't read it," Bailey says. "How can they verify that what they are putting on the label is accurate and correct?"
Bailey says the university has conducted studies showing that English-speaking people have difficulty understanding how to take their medication based on English instructions.
"So you can imagine for a person who doesn't even speak English; getting an English instruction is that much more difficult to understand."
One city is taking action. New York City Council is considering legislation that would require all chain pharmacies to council patients in a patient's native language, and well was translate all labels.
"They just weren't using the technology," says Nisha Agerwal, Director of Health Justice Program for the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.
There has been no timetable set for the legislation.
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