National Alliance for Hispanic Health: Understanding Why Hispanics Live Longer Lives
Washington, DC (PRWEB) February 20, 2014 -- EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL FEBRUARY 24, 2014 -— “Today, because of the participation of 16,145 Hispanic men and women in this groundbreaking NIH study, we have a better picture of health in America,” said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance). She added, “To understand the reasons Hispanics have a longer life than non-Hispanic whites (81.4 years vs. 78.8 years) we need to know the facts about Hispanics.”
The Alliance today released the report, About Our Health: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (SOL), which was sent to each of the SOL study participants. Some overall trends of the NIH study:
• Only half the Hispanic men and women ages 45-64 had their diabetes under control.
• Hispanic women were more likely than Hispanic men to say they had asthma
• Hispanic women, especially those ages 45-64, were the most likely to describe symptoms of depression.
• Daily recreational physical activity was limited across all ages.
• At all ages, women consumed much less salt than men.
• Hispanic men were more likely than Hispanic women to eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
• Hispanic men were more likely to drink alcoholic beverages than Hispanic women.
The 40 page bilingual report also includes trends for each of the communities that were part of the study, nine things you can do for your health, and the Su Familia Helpline as a resource.
The multiyear study of 16,415 Hispanic men and women ages 18-74 is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and six other institutes and offices of the NIH. Participants were recruited by Field Centers associated with academic institutions in the Bronx, NY; Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; and, San Diego, CA. A Coordinating Center in Chapel Hill, NC coordinated all research activities and protocols, and provided the data tables that the Alliance studied and evaluated to develop the findings presented in this booklet. “Although Hispanics are 1 of 6 people in the U.S., our knowledge about Hispanic health has been limited. This landmark study provides a baseline to address questions about the health of Hispanics/Latinos and a critical understanding of factors that could lead to improved health in all communities,” said Dr. Larissa Avilés-Santa, Director of the SOL study for NHLBI.
For copies of the About Our Health report and findings, visit http://www.hispanichealth.org or call the Alliance's Su Familia National Hispanic Family Health Helpline at 1-866-783-2645. For field centers: Bronx: Ms. Madeline Crespo-Figueroa, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of the Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY, madeline.crespofigueroa(at)einstein(dot)yu(dot)edu or 718.584.1870: Chicago: Mr. César Alvarado, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago, calvar3(at)uic(dot)edu or 312.413.0739, and Dr. Martha L. Daviglus, daviglus(at)uic(dot)edu or 312.413.0739. Miami: Dr. María Pattany, Univ. of Miami, mpattany(at)psy(dot)miami(dot)edu or. 305.243.1438. San Diego: Dr. Greg A. Talavera, San Diego State Univ., gtalavera(at)mail(dot)sdsu(dot)edu or 619.594.4086. North Carolina: Dr. Daniela Sotres-Alvarez, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, dsotres(at)unc(dot)edu or 919.843.9994. NHLBI: Dr. Larissa Avilés-Santa, avilessantal(at)nhlbi(dot)nih.gov or 301.435.0450.
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About the National Alliance for Hispanic Health — The Alliance is the nation's foremost science-based source of information and trusted advocate for the health of Hispanics in the United States. The Alliance represents thousands of Hispanic healthcare providers across the nation providing services to more than 15 million people each year, making a daily difference in the lives of Hispanic communities and families.
Abigail Hernandez, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, +1 202-797-4357, [email protected]
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