Hispanics, particularly Puerto Ricans, who are living in America have more concerning health issues compared to the whites and other Latinos, says a report released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Tuesday. The study on Hispanic Health is the first-ever report done by the federal agency and draws its findings from earlier researches and new studies, according to the Associated Press.
Called the CDC Vital Signs, the research indicates cancer and heart disease as the two top causes of deaths among Hispanics. But it's the Puerto Ricans who exhibit the diseases more and they are also prone to develop and die from chronic liver disease, heart disease, diabetes and homicide compared to Mexican-Americans or Cuban-Americans.
"There are some areas of health that are worse, some that are better, but they can be improved," said Dr. Tom Friedman, the director of CDC in a report from NBC News. He cited that the results of the study should encourage Hispanics to make improvements with their health.
"Four out of 10 Hispanics die of heart disease or cancer. By not smoking and staying physically active, such as walking briskly for 30 minutes a day, Hispanics can reduce their risk for these chronic diseases and others such as diabetes," added Friedman in a statement released to the press.
The study also finds that Hispanics generally have lower smoking rate (14 percent), compared to Caucasians (24 percent). But among Hispanics, Puerto Ricans still have the highest smoking rate (26 percent) compared to the Cubans (22 percent).
Blood pressure problems are also common among Hispanics, however, the men are more likely to get this under control compared to the women.
The study also points out that many Latinos are uninsured compared to Caucasians. A lot of factors contribute to this, including language barriers, educational and economic status. The CDC suggests healthcare providers should look into including interpreters in their service to improve community health.
Vital Signs by CDC has been released in conjunction with the government agency's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
"This report reinforces the need to sustain strong community, public health, and health care linkages that support Hispanic health," said Leandris Liburd, the Associate Director for Minority Health and Health Equity at the CDC.
