Quote of the Week!

I thought this quote was appropriate during finals week. Enjoy!

Student 1: "Can you imagine what it would be like willingly running as fast as you can and knowing you'll get pummelled?" [in regards to football]


Student 2: "Yeah, I can...it's called medical school."

The Latina Health Paradox

Another cross post from my time at NLIRH. ENJOY!

The Latino Paradox does not have a robust definition but refers to statistical trends in which health outcomes do not match race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status. For Latinas this means that in some cases, despite our low socioeconomic environments, our health is comparable, or even better, than that of our non-Hispanic counterparts.

It has been commonly known that Latinos suffer lower incidences of cardiovascular disease and have overall lower rates of infant and maternal mortality. However, when looking closer, we still see that Puerto Ricans have the second highest infant mortality rates in the country, falling just behind non-Hispanic Blacks. A recent study conducted by Luisa N. Borrell, and Natalie D. Crawford, has highlighted the importance of looking within the data to get to the truth. In their paper, they highlight that Latinos between the ages of 22-44 actually have a 31% greater overall mortality rate when compared to non-Hispanics with the same age.

On the other hand, a study by the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at UCLA has shown that Japanese women no longer own the title of “longest-lived” group (at 83 years), but in fact, women living in southern Californian Latino communities have the longest life expectancy, at an average of 86 years.

It is also commonly known that Latinos suffer from diabetes at almost twice the incidence of non-Hispanic whites and that Latinas have five times the AIDS rate as non-Hispanic white females.

So, does the Latino Health Paradox exist? And if it does, what does that mean for Latinas and our work here at NLIRH?

Our conclusions show that Latinos do in fact have better or equal health outcomes in some key areas compared to non-hispanic Whites, but they also have worse health outcomes in other areas. The key to advancing our work in medicine, public health, policy and advocacy is in understanding new data on the paradox and conducting our own research. It also means promoting the health benefits of our diversity while highlighting some of the major problems that in deed do exist within our communities.

Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines

In light of finals, I must focus all my energies on studying, BUT some of you have asked me what the deal was with the USPSTF and their breast cancer screening guidelines. Well, I won't have time to write a new blog on it, but here is one I wrote earlier in the year while at NLIRH (check out their blog here). I actually had the opportunity to hold a brown bag lunch on it! Enjoy!

In November 2009 the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released new recommendations for the screening of breast cancer. The most alarming changes where that women should not begin mammography screening until the age of 50, and that they should be done every other year instead of annually. The USPSTF also recommended AGAINST self-breast exams.

So, what does this mean for Latinas? Well, seeing as how very little public education was done to communicate these new guidelines to the general public, chances are, these new guidelines have yet to reach our constituencies. We can also be sure that these guidelines did not take into account Latinas and our social economic status or our access to equitable health care.

Although it is true that two thirds of breast cancer in Hispanic women are found through self-exam, according to a study presented in the US News, Hispanic women also tend to wait at least one month to see a doctor about it; the main reason being little to no access to health care. Also, of these two-thirds of Latinas, how many of them were able to access affordable and equitable treatment? As most articles have stated, detection is not prevention.

The biggest problems with these guidelines were the way they were communicated and the timing of their release (during the tumultuous health care debate). In December, the USPSTF promised to update the language of the recommendations, but the damage had already been done.

The bottom line is this: continue doing what you think is best for you! Talk to your doctor and come up with a screening schedule that you and your provider are 100% comfortable with. Last, trust your instincts because you are the only one who knows your body, so be your own health advocate!

The Latina Institute

Last year, I had the wonderful opportunity of interning at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. NLIRH is an amazingly progressive institute at the forefront of reproductive justice issues. Their mission is to ensure the fundamental human right to reproductive health and justice for Latinas, their families and their communities through public education, community mobilization and policy advocacy.

Not only did I get to live in NYC but I also got to travel occasionally to DC to lobby on Capitol Hill or attend real fancy shmancy events! 

Working for NLRIH couldn't have come at a better time since our nation's politicians were trying to pass health care reform. I learned a lot about the bill and even more about the legislative process. 

But the reason for this blog isn't about my experience, but to promote all the resources NLIRH has to offer. Also, many of you have asked me about NLIRH and have already asked me to send you some of their publications. So here are some useful links:

Main NLIRH website

A list of some of their publications

Feel free to browse around since they have very significant resources for researchers, policy makers, and even the media! I will also keep you all updated for job/intern openings at NLIRH!

Enjoy!

Quote of the Week!

"After the 5-6 cycles of chemotherapy there are about 100 cancer cells left and you hope that they just die from boredom since they have no one to play with anymore." -One of our professors

31st Annual UCD-SOM Wine Tasting and Auction

Here's my second call for any and all goods and services. If you missed my last post click here to read more about this amazing event!

If you own a company, service, or have a special talent (aka painting) please consider donating it to our Wine Auction! We are still looking for a few more items, and to be honest, the more the merrier!

It can come in the form of gift certificates to restaurants, salons, businesses, and they don't even have to be in the state of California! Or you can donate an item from paintings, golf clubs, electronics, or even time shares! Again, the event will be attended by UCD-SOM faculty, staff, alumni, and even politicians and maybe some NBA players. Thus, your business will be heavily promoted amongst the who's who of California's capitol.

Let me know if you are interested by sending me an email, FB mesg, or leaving me a comment here on my blog ;-)

Also, a great big thanks to everyone who has already donated! The clinics, but most especially the patients they serve, are most appreciative!

Here is a link to the event if you're in the area and would like to attend!

Cheers!