Posts Tagged: heart disease
Hispanic women's upbeat outlook may boost heart health
Examining data from female employees of a Miami-based health system, researchers theorized that a more upbeat attitude among Hispanic women might contribute to their better cardiovascular health.
Hispanic women logged more favorable results in 10 of 12 heart conditions and risk factors -- such as high blood pressure or cholesterol -- than non-Hispanic women, according to the research, published April 29 in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
"Obviously, this group has something that is set apart," said study author Emir Veledar, a biostatistician at Baptist Health South Florida in Miami.
"There is no difference among all these women in knowledge, but in positive attitude," he added. "Hispanic women are more satisfied with their jobs and their lives. They don't think they need to get more exercise; they have good or excellent health, and they're happy with their weight."
This so-called "Hispanic paradox," Veledar said, extends to the significant gap in average life expectancies between Hispanic and white women. Female Hispanics in the United States are expected to live for 87 years, about six years longer than white females.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults of both genders and all races, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nearly 422,000 American women die of heart disease each year.
Veledar and his colleagues studied annual health-fair and test results gathered from nearly 7,700 female employees at Baptist Health South Florida. Of those, more than half were Hispanic.
Nearly two dozen measures of cardiovascular health were examined, including blood pressure, blood sugar levels and body mass index (BMI), a ratio of weight to height. The women's knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors was assessed and they were also asked about their attitudes about their job, weight and desire for more exercise.
With equal access to health care and benefits because of their shared employment situation, the women had notably different cardiovascular risk factors. Not only did Hispanics have lower rates of type 1 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, they reported job and life satisfaction in greater numbers, the investigators found.
More than half of both Hispanic and non-Hispanic women wished to lose weight, but that number was about 54 percent among Hispanics and nearly 60 percent among non-Hispanics. Fewer Hispanics wished to get more exercise -- less than 33 percent compared to over 37 percent, the findings showed.
Veledar said there's no way to know if a more upbeat attitude among Hispanic women has any direct relationship to their better cardiovascular risk profile, but he said all ethnicities could benefit from a "balance in attitude."
Dr. Miguel Quinones, chairman of cardiology at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, said research has long linked lower stress levels -- which can be influenced by a positive attitude -- with lower heart disease risks.
"There's no question that stress is one of the factors that modifies whether someone who is at risk for heart disease presents with heart disease," said Quinones, who wasn't involved with the new research. "For Hispanic women, if they have a less stressful environment because their family and cultural life is better, that may potentially be good."
Quinones explained that female Hispanics' lower heart risks likely have little to do with shared genetics, since Hispanics' roots may be, among others, Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, African or European.
"Ethnicity does not equal race," he said.
Quinones also noted that the association between an upbeat attitude and improved cardiovascular health does not mean the former caused the latter.
Source: Published originally on HealthDay.com as HispanicWomen's Upbeat Outlook May Boost Heart Health by Maureen Salamon. April 29, 2015.
Hispanic women's upbeat outlook may boost heart health
Examining data from female employees of a Miami-based health system, researchers theorized that a more upbeat attitude among Hispanic women might contribute to their better cardiovascular health.
Hispanic women logged more favorable results in 10 of 12 heart conditions and risk factors -- such as high blood pressure or cholesterol -- than non-Hispanic women, according to the research, published April 29 in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
"Obviously, this group has something that is set apart," said study author Emir Veledar, a biostatistician at Baptist Health South Florida in Miami.
"There is no difference among all these women in knowledge, but in positive attitude," he added. "Hispanic women are more satisfied with their jobs and their lives. They don't think they need to get more exercise; they have good or excellent health, and they're happy with their weight."
This so-called "Hispanic paradox," Veledar said, extends to the significant gap in average life expectancies between Hispanic and white women. Female Hispanics in the United States are expected to live for 87 years, about six years longer than white females.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for adults of both genders and all races, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nearly 422,000 American women die of heart disease each year.
Veledar and his colleagues studied annual health-fair and test results gathered from nearly 7,700 female employees at Baptist Health South Florida. Of those, more than half were Hispanic.
Nearly two dozen measures of cardiovascular health were examined, including blood pressure, blood sugar levels and body mass index (BMI), a ratio of weight to height. The women's knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors was assessed and they were also asked about their attitudes about their job, weight and desire for more exercise.
With equal access to health care and benefits because of their shared employment situation, the women had notably different cardiovascular risk factors. Not only did Hispanics have lower rates of type 1 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, they reported job and life satisfaction in greater numbers, the investigators found.
More than half of both Hispanic and non-Hispanic women wished to lose weight, but that number was about 54 percent among Hispanics and nearly 60 percent among non-Hispanics. Fewer Hispanics wished to get more exercise -- less than 33 percent compared to over 37 percent, the findings showed.
Veledar said there's no way to know if a more upbeat attitude among Hispanic women has any direct relationship to their better cardiovascular risk profile, but he said all ethnicities could benefit from a "balance in attitude."
Dr. Miguel Quinones, chairman of cardiology at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, said research has long linked lower stress levels -- which can be influenced by a positive attitude -- with lower heart disease risks.
"There's no question that stress is one of the factors that modifies whether someone who is at risk for heart disease presents with heart disease," said Quinones, who wasn't involved with the new research. "For Hispanic women, if they have a less stressful environment because their family and cultural life is better, that may potentially be good."
Quinones explained that female Hispanics' lower heart risks likely have little to do with shared genetics, since Hispanics' roots may be, among others, Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, African or European.
"Ethnicity does not equal race," he said.
Quinones also noted that the association between an upbeat attitude and improved cardiovascular health does not mean the former caused the latter.
Source: Published originally on HealthDay.com as HispanicWomen's Upbeat Outlook May Boost Heart Health by Maureen Salamon. April 29, 2015.
New CDC report reveals Latinos have better health outcomes than Whites
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, titled "Vital Signs: Leading Causes of Death, Prevalence of Diseases and Risk Factors, and Use of Health Services Among Hispanics in the United States," showed insights into Latino health, beginning with the detail, Hispanics, on average, are nearly 15 years younger than whites, and they're more likely to live below the poverty line. Also mentioned, the all-cause death rate is 24 percent lower among Hispanics, and the Hispanics experience lower death rates for nine of the 15 leading causes of death.
However, Hispanics showed higher death rates from diabetes (51 percent higher), chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (48 percent), essential hypertension and hypertensive renal disease (8 percent), homicide (96 percent), and higher prevalence of diabetes (133 percent) and obesity (23 percent), compared with non-Hispanic whites. Hispanic death rates for diabetes and chronic liver disease including cirrhosis are higher by about 50 percent. Additionally, 41.5 percent of Hispanics lack health insurance, compared to 15.1 percent of whites, and 15.5 percent of Hispanic indicated they delay or won't receive medical care because of cost concerns, compared to 13.6 percent of whites. However, like non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics most frequently die from cancer or heart disease.
The "Hispanic paradox" is described in the report, identifying Hispanics' projected longer life expectancy and lower mortality rate, despite documented barriers to health, including an elevated uninsured rate. There are lower smoking rates among immigrants, an influx of healthy immigrants to the U.S., an outflow of ill or elderly immigrants and superior levels of family support may explain the improved mortality rate for Hispanic origin groups.
However, Hispanics are not all alike. National origin and cultural heritage can influence health behaviors and outcomes. U.S.-born Hispanics don't fare as well as foreign-born Hispanics; evident by the fact they have higher prevalence of obesity (30 percent higher), hypertension (40 percent), smoking (72 percent), heart disease (89 percent) and cancer (93 percent). Differences don't only exist between U.S.-born Hispanics and foreign-born Hispanics. There were substantial differences identified among Hispanics by origin, nativity and sex. For instance, 66 percent more Puerto Ricans smoke than Mexicans.
According to the report, there are ways to improve the health outcomes of Hispanics, which includes community health workers to encourage residents to pursued care provided by nurses and doctors. Also, offering Latinos "patient-centered, team-based, comprehensive, coordinated health care with enhanced access" is crucial. Access to Spanish and English-language education material that is culturally appropriate language is important and existing programs must be leveraged to improve community health services and access to preventative care.
Source: Published originally on LatinPost.com as New CDC Report Reveals Latinos Have Better Health Outcomes Than Whites by Nicole Akoukou Thompson, May 7, 2015.
Getting the Red In
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"Appropiately dressed" lady beetle, aka lady bug. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Power of Red
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A syrphid fly, aka flower fly or hover fly, sipping nectar from a tower of jewels. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
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A flameskimmer dragonfly, Libellula saturata, rests on a stake. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A flesh fly, family Sarcophagidae, grooming itself.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Honey bee with red pollen from a nearby rock puslane. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)