South Texas

Lotería de salud #12: La garza

Esta semana en la lotería de salud, “llegaron los picos largos de la feria de San Juan…” así es ¡¡¡la garza!!! Y el tema de salud que nos trae la garza es el tema del agua limpia, el agua potable.

El agua potable es una necesidad para la salud de todos, y aunque por lo general en Texas tenemos fuentes de agua potable muy saludables, es importante entender de dónde viene el agua que toma usted, y qué son las condiciones que pueden afectar su salubridad.

Para una introducción, recomendamos este sitio de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA): “El agua potable y la salud: lo que usted debe saber”. También la página “Agua potable” de medlineplus.gov ofrece mucha información y enlaces importantes.

Por supuesto un desastre natural — como el huracán Dolly que afectó al Valle esta semana pasada — puede cambiar rapidamente la estabilidad del sistema de agua potable. Según esta nota que salió sobre las 5 de la tarde ayer, hay varias partes del Valle donde se está recomendando hervir el agua antes de tomarla, para prevenir enfermedades llevadas por el agua debido a las inundaciones y otros problemas que trajeron el huracán:

North Alamo Water Supply Corporation (incluye partes de Donna, Weslaco, Elsa, Edcouch y La Blanca)
La Villa
Laguna Madre Water Supply (incluye la Isla del Padre Sur, Military Highway WSC, los que reciben agua de la planta Las Rusias)
Sebastian Municipal Utility District
Lyford
Primera
Port Mansfield
Santa Rosa

Si usted vive en una de esas zonas o conoce a alguien que allí vive, es importante que verifique con las autoridades (su proveedor de agua) que el agua está buena para tomar; si no, debería hervirla al menos un minuto antes de tomarla.

Tags: loteriadesalud
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March is National Nutrition Month

We have a serious situation on our hands.
For the first time in the history of the world we are seeing great progress in the near complete eradication of hunger. While we have not solved the problem completely, it can be said that we are supplying food to at least most of the world. More of the poorer countries are learning agricultural techniques to insure a sustained food supply.

Why then, with such success, are we now facing a global epidemic of obesity? Perhaps nutrition cannot be defined merely as fuel for the body, but it must also include adequate work and exercise for the body. Nutritious foods can make us healthy, but food alone will not necessarily produce a total picture of health; we need also nutritious work and exercise to build good muscle, bone, blood and tissue.

Last year, a global study performed by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, (OECD), on the health of the world in general, found that more than half a billion people, or one in 10 adults worldwide, were obese and that obesity was spilling over from the wealthy into poorer nations. It’s become an epidemic.

So, what can be done?

Most healthcare professionals agree that the most obvious and imminent causes for over-weight and obesity problems are consumption of excess calories, unhealthy eating habits and insufficient physical activity among children and adults. Individuals in the medical sciences, are being called upon to be leaders in opening the eyes of our communities to see the inherent dangers that threaten us all.

Below is a collection of articles aimed at studying and addressing our complete nutritional problem. You may want to share some of these articles and videos with your clients, patients, students and caregivers. Together we can turn things around and help make lives better and healthier.

MedlinePlus: Obesity rates rise, threaten health in OECD nations:

US Department of Agriculture:

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute – For Health Professionals:

Texas Department of State Health Services:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

MedlinePlus:

MedlinePlus
Nutrition for Seniors:

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:

Scholarly articles

OECD

Obesity in Latino Communities:

Obesity prevalence and the local food environment

Texas Health Institute, 2006 Report

MedlinePlus.gov:

Behavioral intervention program

Science Daily

Children and Nature Network

Posted in Articles, Hispanic health, Minority health, News, Reports, Resources, South Texas, Staying Well. Connected., Websites, Youth | Comments Off

Mental Health Care

South Texas to Benefit from$5.3 Million Grant

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas Inc. has recently awarded a $5.3 million grant to the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The grant will help fund the creation of the South Texas Access to Recovery Program (STAR), and help address the shortage of behavioral and mental health care professionals in the region.

According to Professor Pedro Delgado, M.D., professor and chair of the Dept. of Psychiatry at the Health Science Center, “The need for mental health care professionals in South Texas is immense. Texas has only about half the number of mental health providers per 100,000 residents compared to the national average, and one in 20 South Texans will develop severe mental illness at some time in their life”.

Among the underserved population in South Texas there are very few mental health care professionals who can provide care to the South Texas region and STAR, it is hoped, will help address these issues.

The grant will also aid the Department of Psychiatry in creating a Community Behavioral Healthcare Track in which two psychiatry residents each year will be admitted to this new track within the four year residence program.

The School of Nursing will collaborate on the grant as well, and scholarships will be provided for psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner students.

To view the news article by Rosanne Fohn in its entirety, please click the link below:

http://www.uthscsa.edu/hscnews/singleformat.asp?newID=3964

Posted in Funding Opportunities, Hispanic health, Minority health, News, South Texas, Staying Well. Connected. | Comments Off

More on traveling to Mexico for health care

As a follow up on my earlier post about Texans traveling to Mexico for health care, here are two additional recent articles: one from KENS-5 San Antonio (15 August), another from the Washington Post (18 June). Although both focus on dental care, the Washington Post article refers to a couple of interesting-sounding studies that deal with health care and border residents:

In a recent University of Texas study, 86 percent of low-income El Paso residents surveyed — half of whom were illegal immigrants — said they receive medical care or buy prescription drugs from Mexico. Similarly, a study published in the Pan-American Journal of Health [sic] found that more than 37 percent of uninsured New Mexico border residents get medical care in Mexico.

The second study referred to there appears to be the following:

Escobedo LG, Cardenas VM. Utilization and purchase of medical care services in Mexico by residents in the United States of America, 1998-1999 [Utilización y compra de servicios médicos en México por personas que viven en los Estados Unidos de América, 1998-1999]. Pan American Journal of Public Health May 2006;19(5):300-305.

I have not yet identified the University of Texas study referred to in the Washington Post article.

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New Study of Health-Related Quality of Life Among Colonia Residents

A recent article in Social Science & Medicine reports on findings from a study of health-related quality of life indicators among Mexican Americans living in South Texas colonias. “We found that border Mexican Americans living in colonias were of similar mental health status compared to the general population of the United States, but worse off in terms of physical health. Poor education and long-term residency in colonias were predictors of lower physical health. Women reported worse mental health than men. Length of time living in a colonia, co-morbidity status, and perceived problems with access to healthcare was associated with poorer mental health status.”

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New Support Group for Parents of Children Affected by Heart Problems

The city of Brownsville now has a local chapter of Mended Little Hearts, a support group for parents of children with heart defects and heart disease. According to Michelle Gonzalez, coordinator for McAllen, “Our goal is to raise awareness in the Brownsville community, garner support for the congenital heart defect community as well as support those families that are affected by these defects.” Prior to this time, the nearest chapter was located in McAllen.

Mended Little Hearts is affiliated with the American Heart Association.

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November is National Diabetes Month

Diabetes can strike in all age groups and socioeconomic levels. However, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), Mexican Americans are more than twice as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of a similar age. And diabetics utilize healthcare resources at a rate of three times higher than patients in the non-diabetic population.

Diabetes was the sixth leading cause of death in Texas, and nationally, from 2002 through 2004. In 2004, 5,426 deaths were directly attributed to diabetes. The disease is believed to be under-reported on death certificates in Texas and the nation, both as a condition, and as a cause of death.

According to the Texas Diabetes Council (TDC), 30 people per 100,000 who have diabetes are likely to die from it. The mortality rates for blacks and Hispanics are more than double that of whites. Type 1 diabetes affects one in every 400 to 600 Texas children and adolescents. Type 2 diabetes, in persons less than 18 years old, has been increasing in recent years, TDC addresses issues affecting people with diabetes in Texas and advises the Texas Legislature about the statewide system of education services for all people with diabetes and the health care professionals who care for them.

More than 14 percent of Valley residents have diabetes – more than twice the national average. Many area deaths from heart disease, kidney failure, and other organ shutdowns occurred because diabetes opened the door.

Upcoming diabetes educational events in South Texas:
11/2/07 & 11/3/07
2007 Southwest Diabetes Symposium
Texas Diabetes Institute in San Antonio

11/7/07
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
The Rio Grande Valley Diabetes Association (RGVDA) and the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce have gathered several experts on diabetes to make a presentation to the public on the dreaded disease. Healthy refreshments and educational information will be available.
McAllen Heart Hospital Conference Room located at 1900 S. “D” Street
For more information on the workshop and/or to register call the MHCC at (956) 928-0060.

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Nueces County Medical Society and Alliance Health Fair

The 42nd Annual Health Fair, sponsored by the Nueces County Medical Society and Alliance, will be held on Saturday, August 25, 2007, 8 am – 3 pm, at the American Bank Center Exhibit Hall, 1901 N Shoreline Blvd in Corpus Christi. Over 180 booths will be available for the public to visit: parents can sign kids up for Medicaid and CHIP, students can receive free school physicals, the American Heart Association will offer CPR training, and the public has the opportunity to receive a variety of free tests including glucose, cholesterol, vision, hearing, glaucoma, EKGs, skin cancer, and breast screens.

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Operation Lone Star in Laredo

Operation Lone Star in Laredo, Texas

Operation Lone Star is currently underway in Laredo, at Louis J. Christen Middle School. It is a joint operation by government, military, and civilian organizations to provide free health and dental care to Texas border residents. The Laredo site was busy as many members of the community came to receive care, including immunizations, physical examinations, and basic dental care. Staff from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio libraries attended OLS in Laredo to promote good health information resources. The library staff showed visitors how to MedlinePlus to find reliable up-to-date health information on the Internet, in English or Spanish.