HispanicTrending

'Baldo' comic strip tackles diabetes among Hispanics

June 30, 2009
By NANCY CHURNIN

Baldo's dad has diabetes.

Starting this week, the comic strip will reveal Sergio Bermudez's health condition in a multiple-part story that will run in more than 200 newspapers.

The idea, says former Dallas Morning News editor Hector Cantú, who created the strip with Carlos Castellanos, is to build awareness of a condition that hits Hispanics disproportionately.

"My wife's stepfather passed away recently with complications from several things, and diabetes was one of the things he was fighting. My mom ... may be in the very early stages. It's something I worry about."

Hispanics are two times as likely to develop diabetes in their lifetimes as non-Hispanic whites in the United States, says Dr. Jane L. Delgado of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health. The disease affects more than 10 percent of the Hispanic population.

Cantú, 48, is now the editorial director at Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. Castellanos is an illustrator living in West Palm Beach, Fla. As a former journalist, Cantú says he feels a mission to try to help readers by providing helpful information. He consulted with the National Alliance for Hispanic Health on the best way for the characters to address the importance of healthy eating and exercise in preventing and managing diabetes.

When this storyline concludes on July 10, the strip will include the Alliance's toll free Su Familia National Hispanic Family Health Hotline at 1-866-783-2645 to help readers find additional information and resources in their communities.

"We're not going to change the world with a comic strip," Cantú says. "But we can make people more aware."

Source: Dallas Morning News

The Lance Armstrong Foundation Talks About Their Latino Outreach

June 26, 2009
By Juan Tornoe

Thanks to my friends from Hispanic Communications network, I had the opportunity to interview a Livestrong spokesperson on their recent efforts to communicate with Spanish speaking Hispanics.

Juan Tornoe: What has been Lance Armstrong Foundation’s experience in reaching out to Spanish speaking Latinos in the past?

Lance Armstrong Foundation: As part of a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) launched an outreach campaign in 2008 using radio to reach Spanish-speaking cancer survivors and their loved ones.  The campaign featured 8 sixty-radio segments that aired on over 250 Spanish-language radio stations across the country and also produced 5 one-hour call-in shows that allowed Hispanic/Latinos to ask questions about cancer to a panel of experts.  These shows aired in June 2008 in New York City, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and San Antonio.

JT: What prompted you to launch this multimedia Spanish language outreach?

LAF: We worked with Hispanic Communications Network to create a campaign that would reach Hispanic/Latinos through multiple media outlets including radio and internet.  We know that internet usage among Hispanic/Latinos continues to increase and the LAF wanted to take advantage of this outlet. 

JT: What are Lance Armstrong Foundation’s goals/expectations through this outreach?

LAF: We hope to increase awareness of physical, emotional and day-to-day concerns of Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors and also increase utilization of LAF’s Spanish-language resources including LIVESTRONG.org/Espanol and LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare

JT: A little bit more than a week into it, what results have you seen so far?

LAF: During the first week of the campaign, we have received over 4,000 visits to LIVESTRONG.org/Espanol, over a 300% increase of traffic to the website versus our 2008 campaign of radio outreach only. 

JT: Please mention all the elements that comprise this campaign.
 
LAF:The radio segments will air from June 15 – July 21 on over 250 Spanish-language radio stations across the country. 
 
The viral marketing campaign will also run in conjunction with the radio ads and includes:

• Placement of the banner ads on MSN Latino, Univision and HispanoClick
• Viral seeding of campaign content on 35 Spanish-language websites. 
• Spanish-language content on the LAF’s existing Facebook, MySpace and Twitter accounts. We have created Spanish Tweets that Brooke will use throughout the campaign.
• Advertisement on Facebook will also run from 6/15 - 6/29. 
• Tweets by Latino celebrities including Frankie Needles and Lorena Roja. 
• Lance Armstrong, LAF CEO, Doug Ulman and Sanjay Gupta also Tweeted about the campaign and revised site. 

On June 23rd – 27th, we will also produce 5 live radio call-in shows that will air in Denver, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington DC and Phoenix. 

Hispanic Communications Network also secured placement of billboard advertisements in Times Square and Los Vegas.  The Times Square billboard ran June 15- 17 and the Las Vegas billboard ran June 17 – 18th. 
 
JT: What are Lance Armstrong Foundation’s plans for reaching out to Spanish speaking Hispanics after the campaign is over?
 

LAF: The LAF will continue providing outreach and resources to Hispanic/Latinos.  We are currently reviewing the results from the current campaign to plan future outreach efforts. 

LiveSTRONG Launches Campaign for Hispanic Cancer Survivors

June 15, 2009

The Lance Armstrong Foundation today launched a massive 1 month multimedia Spanish campaign reaching out Spanish-Dominant Hispanic cancer survivors, their families and those who take care of them. They are using both traditional and new media to reach all generations and all walks of life. Check out LiveSTRONG’s recently updated Spanish language site @ www.LIVESTRONG.org/espanol

It is an important initiative from my fellow Austinites @ “LAF” as well as a much needed resource for Spanish-speaking Latinos who are fighting this disease. Please help spread the word to everyone you know who might benefit from it. Here is their official press release, “En Español” so you can easily pass it around; print it, email it, facebook it… whatever it takes for them to get it. It’s critical beyond doubt.

LIVESTRONG Lanza Campaña para Hispanos Sobrevivientes al Cáncer

WASHINGTON, DC (15 de junio de 2009) /PRNewswire/ — La Fundación Lance Armstrong, LAF por sus siglas en inglés, lanzó una campaña multimedia en español sin precedentes para apoyar a los sobrevivientes, familiares y a las personas encargadas del cuidado de los afectados por el cáncer entre la comunidad hispana de Estados Unidos, a través de la divulgación y promoción de recursos informativos y de orientación de alcance masivo del 15 al 31 de junio de 2009.

La campaña del programa LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare y LIVESTRONG.org/Español pone en las manos de los hispanos, la minoría más grande de Estados Unidos y la de mayor crecimiento en los últimos años, las herramientas necesarias y la información práctica para apoyar a las personas afectadas por el cáncer y también a aquellas a su alrededor, en momentos en los que la comunidad padece uno de los niveles más bajos de acceso a seguro médico de los Estados Unidos.

"Es un orgullo para mi poder servir de apoyo a la comunidad hispana de Estados Unidos, porque en la lucha contra el cáncer la unión hace la fuerza. Y estoy convencido de que juntos podemos ganar esta batalla", dijo Doug Ulman, CEO de la Fundación Lance Armstrong.

El esfuerzo inédito de LAF hacia los hispano-parlantes de Estados Unidos está apuntalado en una campaña multimedia masiva que incorpora medios tradicionales como la radio y un uso intensivo de nuevas tecnologías y redes sociales de Internet, a fin de alcanzar a hispanos de todas las generaciones, toda vez que el cáncer no discrimina.

Campaña Multimedia

A lo largo de la campaña se difundirán Anuncios de Servicio Público (PSA's) que brindarán información sobre el apoyo disponible a través de la Fundación Lance Armstrong y su programa LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare, con guías para visitar la nueva página del programa, que ha sido rediseñada para ayudar con más eficacia a la comunidad hispana, y donde sobrevivientes, familiares y personas interesadas pueden hacer consultas personalizadas.

A partir del 22 de junio, la campaña incorpora cinco programas de radio "En Vivo" en un número similar de los mercados más importantes para la comunidad hispana de Estados Unidos: Chicago (IL), San Francisco (CA), Phoenix (AZ), Denver (CO) y Washington (DC), donde especialistas en cáncer responderán de manera directa a las preguntas del público.

"Es importante recalcar, que todo aquel que requiera de nuestro apoyo, ya sea sobreviviente, familiar o persona que cuida al sobreviviente de cáncer, tiene a su alcance atención individualizada a través de LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare" agregó Ulman.

La campaña multimedia incluye además un conjunto de mensajes que por primera vez forman parte de un paquete informativo y de orientación de su clase dirigido expresamente hacia la comunidad hispana. Sus principales componentes son:

    * Una mini serie de videos en línea (webisodes) de corte testimonial que presenta algunos casos de los más usuales de sobrevivientes del cáncer y el tipo de ayuda que LAF pone a su alcance.
    * Una serie de cápsulas de audio (podcasts) que se pueden escuchar de manera instantánea o descargar a aparatos de audio portátiles a través del formato MP3 para tenerlos a disposición en cualquier momento.
    * Un dispositivo de ícono interactivo (widget) disponible para descargas al escritorio de computadoras personales para uso frecuente o para compartir con amigos en algunos de los sitios más populares de Internet como Facebook o MySpace, entre otros. El ícono tendrá información actualizada semanalmente y datos para contactar a la Fundación.
    * Un uso intensivo de las redes sociales de Internet como Twitter o YouTube para multiplicar los mensajes, a través de enlaces o páginas dedicadas para recordar a la comunidad que la ayuda está siempre al alcance de la mano con LAF.

"La comunidad hispana podrá, con todos esos recursos, conocer de primera mano información sobre el apoyo emocional y médico que requieren quienes han sido afectados por el cáncer", dijo Ulman, agregando que "estas personas recibirán el soporte para afrontar la vida después del cáncer, información sobre sus derechos como sobrevivientes, recursos para buscar tratamiento si carecen de seguro médico y asesoría sobre grupos comunitarios de apoyo para sobrevivientes".

Acerca de LAF

A través de su programa LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare www.LIVESTRONG.org/Espanol (teléfono 1866-927-7205) la Fundación ofrece consejería y referencias de programas locales, ayuda en temas financieros y de seguros, información actualizada de estudios clínicos sobre nuevos tratamientos para los diferentes tipos de cáncer, recomendaciones para hablar con los seres queridos, además de un amplio abanico de recursos para los sobrevivientes, familiares y quienes cuidan a los afectados por el cáncer.

Para más información o para obtener materiales relacionados con la campaña, comunicarse con Duly Fernandez al 202-360-4052 o duly.fernandez@hcnmedia.com

North Carolina Hispanic women do not take multivitamins despite increased risk of serious birth defects

June 4, 2009
Source: dBusinessNews

A recent statewide study conducted by the North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign and published by the American Journal of Health Education revealed that only one-third of Hispanic women took a daily multivitamin with folic acid. These findings are important because Hispanics have a significantly higher risk of having a baby affected by a birth defect of the brain (anencephaly) or spine (spina bifida). According to public health experts, all women of childbearing age should take a daily multivitamin with folic acid, to reduce their risk of having a baby with these birth defects. This recommendation is especially important for Hispanics because their risk is double that of non-Hispanic whites and blacks.

As part of the study, in 2006, the North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign administered a survey to foreign-born Hispanic women ages 18-35 in 12 randomly selected counties throughout the state. The study results confirm that Hispanic women in North Carolina lack awareness about the importance of multivitamins and folic acid. Less than one-quarter of the respondents knew that multivitamins or folic acid should be taken before pregnancy and only 20 percent knew that folic acid was good for the development of the brain and spine of fetuses.

Established research shows that up to 70 percent of birth defects of the brain and spine, known as neural tube defects (NTD), may be prevented with adequate folic acid intake before and during the early weeks of pregnancy. Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin found in multivitamins and fortified foods.

The survey also found several myths about multivitamins in the Hispanic community. Hispanic women believe that multivitamins are expensive, are only needed for pregnant women, and can cause weight gain and/or increase their appetite. These myths can create significant barriers and challenges for Hispanic women in starting a daily multivitamin habit. Furthermore, these barriers may contribute to the low vitamin consumption among Hispanic women in North Carolina. In reality, vitamins are inexpensive and only cost pennies a day. It is also clear that women need to take a daily multivitamin regardless of their pregnancy intentions. Currently no research exists to prove or disprove the belief about weight gain and/or increased appetite from a multivitamin.

Although this study confirmed earlier findings regarding multivitamin knowledge and behaviors, it was unique because it offered insights into a population that is rarely surveyed in such a comprehensive way. The combination of an anonymous face-to-face survey in Spanish and the use of native Spanish-speaking data collectors produced a high level of participant comfort with the survey, thereby allowing the North Carolina Folic Acid Campaign to survey approximately one percent of the total population of Spanish-speaking foreign-born women 18-35 in North Carolina.

This study also highlighted the important role of health care providers in educating Hispanic women about multivitamins, folic acid and birth defects. Ninety-nine percent of respondents who did not take a daily multivitamin reported that they would do so upon the recommendation of their health care providers (vs. 88 percent of all women of childbearing age nationally).

“This is good news for the health care community. Health care providers play a critical role in increasing knowledge and influencing behavior to increase the consumption of multivitamins among Hispanic women,” said Leslie deRosset, MPH, Latino Campaign Coordinator and lead author of the study. “They should be prepared at every available opportunity to counsel women about their risk and the potential benefits of preconceptional folic acid consumption.”

The article, “Multivitamins, Folic Acid and Birth Defects: Knowledge, Beliefs and Behaviors of Hispanic Women in North Carolina,” was published in the May/June issue of the American Journal of Health Education.  This is the first time the NC Folic Acid Campaign has been published in a peer-reviewed publication.

6 in 10 Latinos Missing Out on Health Coverage in Nevada

April 27, 2009
By Mike Clifford

Recent studies show people of color are taking it on the chin when it comes to having access to health care in Nevada. Unequal access to health care will be the focus of a town hall meeting tonight in Las Vegas.

Launce Rake with the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) says recent studies show Latinos, the fastest growing ethnic group in the state, are the most left out when it comes to having health coverage.

"Nearly 60 percent of the Latino population, including children and working families, have gone without health insurance at some time in the last few years. Huge portions of our population simply don't have access to health care."

Rake says the number of Latinos without health coverage is about 10 percent higher in Nevada compared to most states. The fact that many Latinos work in the building trades may be a factor, he adds.

One way to measure the lack of health coverage for Latinos in Nevada is by taking a look at how they are dying, points out Theresa Navarro of Health Care for America Now. The number one cause of death for Whites, Blacks and Native Americans is heart disease, she says, while more Latinos in Nevada die from cancer.

"That is because if they don't have insurance, they're not going to go to the doctor. So by the time they find anything wrong with the people, they're already in that stage that is cancer."

The forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Rio Convention Center. Those attending can check out new mobile health clinics that are helping to increase health care access in Clark County and rural parts of the state.

More information about the mobile clinics is available at www.NVHealthCenters.org.

Source: Public News Service

Study: Hispanics receive poorer nursing home care

April 13, 2009
Source: McKnight's

Nursing facilities with a primarily Hispanic resident population generally provide lower quality care than facilities primarily servicing whites, say Brown University researchers who focused on pressure ulcer care.

Investigators examined Minimum Data Set and federal OSCAR data to reach their conclusions. Their findings come two years after another team led by one of the researchers, Vincent Mor, found that blacks were more likely than whites to reside in underperforming nursing homes.

Lead researcher Michael Alpert and colleagues said more research was needed to study the implications of their findings. Study subjects were 65 and older and lived at nursing homes in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. Details of the study appeared recently in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.

La Doctora Aliza announces the launch of VidaySalud.com

April 1, 2009  
Press Release

Today, at the annual Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies’ annual Media and Account Management Conference, Univision, People en Español, Ser Padres and impreMedia health expert Aliza Lifshitz, M.D., better known to the Latino community as la Doctora Aliza, announced the May 1st launch of VidaySalud.com.

“Every month there are millions of searches for health information in Spanish on the web,” Dr. Lifshitz said, “And those searches turn up very little of use to Hispanic consumers.  Not a week goes by when I am not asked by my patients, my viewers, listeners or readers why there isn’t a credible source of health information in Spanish that they can turn to at the time they most need it.  In English there are WebMD, Revolution Health, Everyday Health and iVillage.  In Spanish there are only small health sections in the major portals, not comprehensive, searchable resources.  So, I have decided to do something about it by launching VidaySalud.com.”

Carl Kravetz, a 25-year veteran of Hispanic advertising and Past Chairman of AHAA, will serve as publisher of VidaySalud.com.  “At its launch,” he said, “Vida y Salud will be the largest permanent source of health information and wellness tools in Spanish on the web.  It will include Health A to Z, the Harvard Medical School’s searchable database of symptoms, diseases and treatments, as well as original health content, updated daily and created especially with the U.S. Hispanic community in mind.”

“Our goal,” stressed Dr. Lifshitz, “is to enhance the relationships between Latino patients and their physicians by giving Hispanics the information, tools and skills they need to better communicate with their doctors, to ensure better compliance with physician instructions and to deliver better health outcomes.”  “Simultaneously,” she added, “Through the Doctora Aliza Foundation, we will be working to increase the number of Hispanic health professionals being educated in the United States through medical and nursing school scholarships and outreach to High School guidance counselors.”

“No one is more trusted on health by the Latino community than la Doctora Aliza,” said Kravetz.  “With her as Editor in Chief and with science-based content delivered in the warm, caring style she is known for, VidaySalud.com will provide sponsors with an environment unmatched in credibility.  They will be providing a true value to their customers.” 

The health hub will include channels on Healthy Living, Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Children’s Health, Teen Health, Diet & Nutrition, Exercise, Pregnancy, Diabetes, Heart Health, Cancer, Stress & Mental Health, Sexual Health, Health Insurance, and Health & Beauty.  Other sections may be developed to suit sponsors’ public health interests.

“We are looking for a few committed companies that will work with me, through their marketing campaigns and community relations efforts, to build awareness of and traffic to this important health resource,” Dr. Lifshitz said.  Kravetz concluded, “Those companies looking to build relationships of true value with Latino families will find VidaySalud.com particularly fulfilling.  Join with us to help build a healthier Latino community while increasing your own credibility and sales.”

About health and Hispanic media:
A survey of Latino adults conducted last year by the Pew Hispanic Center in conjunction with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation revealed that more than one-fourth of Hispanic adults in the U.S. lack a usual health care provider, and a similar proportion report obtaining no health care information from medical personnel in the past year.  This is unsurprising as Latinos now represent 16% of the population, but only 4% of the health professionals.

At the same time, more than eight in ten respondents to the Pew study report receiving health information from media sources, such as television and radio.  The survey also finds that foreign-born and less-assimilated Latinos -- those who mainly speak Spanish -- are less likely than other Latinos to report that they have a usual place to go for medical treatment or advice.

Not only are most Latinos obtaining information from media sources, but a sizeable proportion -- 79% -- say they are acting on this information.  The survey findings clearly demonstrate the power and potential of the media to disseminate health information to the disparate segments of the Latino population.  Sadly, much of this potential has been unrealized. Hispanic media is awash in unscrupulous promoters of unproven cures, remedies, diets and “nutritional supplements.” And what little “objective” information is covered is often sensationalist and primarily delivered by reporters unschooled in health. This situation is potentially causing real harm to unwitting consumers.

These factors make it clear that there is a desperate need for a source of free, accessible, scientifically-accurate information and advice in Spanish.

About la Doctora Aliza:
Dr. Aliza A. Lifshitz, Editor in Chief and Principal of VidaySalud.com, is a renowned physician, author and health reporter.  Dr. Lifshitz is the public face of the Univisión television network’s Peabody Award-winning health initiative Entérate: Salúd es Vida.  She also appears on the network’s Primer Impacto, the top rated Spanish-language television news magazine.  Her live call-in program, El Consultorio de la Dra. Aliza, airs weekly on the Univisión Radio network.  Dr. Lifshitz writes regular monthly columns for People en Español and for Ser Padres.  Her weekly column in “La Opinión” is syndicated in Spanish-language newspapers throughout the country.  Her monthly column in the Vista bilingual supplement runs in 29 newspapers nationwide.

The third edition of her book, Mamá Sana, Bebé Sano – Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby, the first bilingual book on pregnancy and childbirth, was published in 2006.  In addition to her activities in the media, Dr. Lifshitz maintains a full-time private practice in Internal Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and was President of the California Hispanic Medical Association an unprecedented four terms. 
Dr. Lifshitz has been named to Hispanic Business Magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential Hispanics.  She has received countless honors; she is featured in The California Museum for History’s Remarkable Women series, Latinas: The Spirit of California.  She was honored with the prestigious Advocacy Award by CaLMA (the California Latino Medical Association) in 2005.  She also received the 2001 A Salud de Los Niños Health Award from the March of Dimes, the 100 Hispanic Media Award (in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2007) and the 2000 Latino Tribute Award from the American Diabetes Association.  She is a three-time recipient of the American Heart Association’s C. Everett Koop Media Award. Among others, she serves on the Boards of Blue Shield of California and the Blue Shield of California Foundation.

About VidaySalud.com:
VidaySalud.com is published by Cultural Asset Management Inc. of Santa Monica, California.  The brand’s mission is to be the most widely recognized and trusted provider of Spanish-language health information, across all media.  Vida y Salud is a tangible expression of La Doctora Aliza’s commitment to public health.  Its content is designed to enhance the relationships between Latino patients and their physicians by giving Hispanics the information, tools and skills they need to better communicate with their doctors, to ensure better compliance with physician instructions and to deliver better health outcomes.  

The VidaySalud.com internet hub will include “Health A to Z,” the Harvard Medical School’s searchable database of symptoms, diseases and treatments, as well as original health content, updated daily and created especially with the U.S. Hispanic community in mind.  Bi-weekly email newsletters on a variety of health topics will be available through free registration.  Interactive health tools will be added as they are developed with sponsor support.

Contact:
Carl Kravetz, Publisher
VidaySalud.com
c/o Cultural Asset Management Inc.
2530 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 22
Santa Monica, CA 90403

Office:  (310) 264-1064
Mobile:  (310) 995-3559
Email:  ckravetz@culturalassetmanagement.com

More Hispanics opt for nip and tuck

Plastic surgery tailored to 'ethnic look'

March 26, 2009
By Jennifer Harper

Viva vanity.

Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment of the American population who are opting for a little nip and tuck. Disapproval of cosmetic surgery within that ethnic community has lessened while techniques that preserve distinctive Latin features have improved, say physicians.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported Wednesday that the number of Hispanics getting some improvement work done rose by 19 percent in the past year. The number of whites fell by 3 percent, however.

"We're seeing a rise in Hispanics opting for cosmetic procedures that coincides with the growth we're seeing in the nation's population," said Dr. John W. Canady, president of the Illinois-based group.

"There's less social stigma, as well as advances in procedures that allow patients to maintain their ethnic look. While the majority of patients continue to be Caucasian, the profile of the typical patient is changing," he said.

The most popular surgical procedure among Hispanics is liposuction, followed by breast enlargement and nose reshaping. More than 1.3 million had work done, compared with 8.8 million whites.

"I put off my vacation to do this. And I'm glad that I did it. Me being a Latina, it was very important for me to look natural," said Raquel Laurent, 41, and of Mexican descent.

She recently had her skin resurfaced by laser and smile lines plumped with injectable filler. "No matter what the ethnic background is, it's very important to feel better about yourself," added Ms. Laurent, of Morris, Ill.

The trend has not gone unnoticed. The Rodeo Drive Rhinoplasty center in Beverly Hills, Calif., for example, offers a distinct "ethnic" nose reshaping for their clientele - more than half of which are nonwhites.

"It is best to address the noses of various ethnic groups such as African-Americans and Hispanics and Asians individually. 'Cookie cutter' approaches to rhinoplasty rarely work well, and this is especially the case with non-Caucasian nose surgery," the group advises patients.

Dr. Tripti Burt, a plastic surgeon in Morris, said her fellow surgeons across the country are noticing an uptick in the number of Hispanic patients.

"They have a tightknit community. Word of mouth is very important to them, and it's helping grow this business," she said.

The number of blacks opting for cosmetic procedures is also growing, up by 10 percent; the number has increased by 5 percent among Asian-Americans, according to the newly released statistics.

Meanwhile, frugality trumps vanity: The bad economy has left some Americans with saggy guts, small breasts, droopy eyes, hairy skin and big noses. Fewer people are looking to surgery to correct imperfections.

The number of liposuctions has fallen by 19 percent in the past year. Tummy tucks have dropped by 18 percent. Breast augmentation is down by 12 percent, eyelid surgery by 8 percent, dermabrasion by 6 percent. Nose reshaping and laser hair removal are each down by 2 percent.

"Like most sectors, plastic surgery is feeling the effects of the economic downturn," Dr. Canady observed.

And no wonder. Improving one's appearance can prove a major financial consideration. The surgeon's fee alone for a typical tummy tuck weighs in at about $5,200. A "buttock lift" is $4,700, breast implants about $3,300.

Americans spent $10.2 billion on such things in 2008, the group said, down from $12.4 billion in 2007.

Source: The Washington Times

Consumer Reports Poll: Nearly 3 in 10 Hispanics Opted Not to Fill M.D. Script for Cost Reasons

March 26. 2009
Via PRNewswire-USNewswire

Struggling to meet health care costs, 29 percent of Hispanic adults said they had decided against filling a script for cost reasons, according to a national poll conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Survey respondents said that they also economized by asking their doctor for free samples, skipping doses, taking smaller doses, or sharing a prescription with someone else on the same medicine.

Consumer Reports' poll demonstrates that the majority of Hispanic consumers in the U.S. are struggling with healthcare costs. When asked about how easy or difficult it is to afford healthcare, 66 percent responded "difficult" or "very difficult," including 88 percent of those without health insurance. Three-quarters of consumers earning under $50,000 and those born outside the U.S. or Puerto Rico reported difficulty dealing with cost, along with nearly 7 in 10 of those under the age of 55.

CR's poll shows a large portion of Hispanics do not have health insurance (44 percent). Those most likely to be without health coverage were ages 18-34 (55 percent), in households earning less than $25,000 per year (54 percent), or foreign born (56 percent). Hispanics without health insurance are more than twice as likely as those with health insurance to forego a prescribed medication because of cost. They are nearly twice as likely to skip a dose to make a prescribed medication last longer. Moreover, one-quarter of uninsured Hispanics reported taking a smaller dose to make a prescription last longer versus 16 percent of Hispanics with health insurance. The uninsured also are more than 4 times as likely to share a prescription with someone else. This "sharing" trend is also popular with the younger Hispanics ages 18-34 years -- 22 percent said they had shared.

"We were surprised by the extent to which Hispanic consumers are cutting corners and the risks they're taking to save money. The most important thing is for patients to talk to their doctors about the cost of medicines. This can be challenging for some patients, especially where there are language and cultural barriers," said Dr. Jose Luis Mosquera, medical expert for Consumer Reports.

New Magazine Identifies Proven, Cost-Effective Alternatives

The poll is being released in conjunction with Consumer Reports Best Drugs for Less, a 60-page magazine that rates more than 200 prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines for more than 20 conditions including heart disease, asthma, diabetes, and depression. Consumer Reports Best Drugs for Less can be purchased by visiting www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org, where the Ratings can be accessed for free. The Ratings are part of a larger initiative by the newly launched Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center to provide consumers with health Ratings based on independent and unbiased review of the best scientific evidence available. (This information is available in English.)

Cutting Corners on Prescriptions

Over the past six months, 38 percent of Hispanic adults have taken a prescription medication. Recent Rx use tracked strongly with age, with 80 percent of Latinos ages 55 years or older having used a medication, compared with just 19 percent of those under age 35. Similarly, the poll found that one-third of Hispanics are currently taking a prescription drug.

Nationwide, Hispanics currently taking a prescription medicine spent out-of-pocket an average of $65 on medicines during the past 30 days, the poll shows. Respondents without health insurance spent far more than the insured ($81 vs. $58), and those earning at least $50,000 spent nearly as much ($78).

Of those taking prescribed drugs, 51 percent are doing one or more of the following to save money: 29 percent did not fill a prescription that is too expensive; 28 percent have requested free samples from their doctors; 19 percent have skipped a dose of prescription medication or have taken a smaller dose (like cutting pills in half); and 6 percent have shared a prescription with someone who takes the same medication. The figures are even higher for those without health insurance.

Drug Advertisements Influence Consumers' Choices -- Skepticism About Generics

Most Hispanics (70 percent) have been exposed to prescription drug ads, and among them, more than one-quarter (27 percent) have asked their doctor about a drug they learned about through advertising. Those in the lowest income-bracket (under $25,000) were also the most likely to ask their doctor about an expensive, brand-name drug they had seen or heard advertised. CR also found that doctors prescribe advertised medications that their patients request 43 percent of the time.

Many Hispanics who could benefit from generic prescriptions expressed skepticism about them. At least half of those without health insurance, aged 18-34, or those earning under $25,000 said they believe that generic medicines sometimes or never work as well as brand-name drugs.

Latino Eldercare or What to do about Mama?

March 21, 2009
by Annette Leal Mattern 

When Mama reached her eighties, we assumed that she would move in with us but cardiac problems meant specialized support. In the Latino culture, it is expected that families bring their aging parents home when that time comes. So, was it okay to consider assisted living?

One of the fastest growing groups in the nation, elderly Latinos are estimated to number nearly 15 million in the next ten years. Some will have no choice but to live with family due to cultural and socio-economic barriers, particularly as more elders find themselves financially strained. Approximately one out of every 12 elderly Hispanics has no health insurance.

Elders with certain conditions, such as Alzheimer's or osteoperosis or cancer, can strain the household physically, emotionally and economically. About 21.4% of elderly Latinos have been diagnosed with diabetes which, if not managed, becomes a deadly condition.

Fortunately, Mama cherishes her independence and is happy in assisted living, as long as the family stays involved in her life. It's a win-win for our unique situation. Mama has constant supervision, regular programs designed by elder-care specialists, and plenty of contact with her loved ones.

When it's time for you to evaluate options, treat your elder parent with dignity and place their health and happiness above what others might think. Start the discussion before it's time; preparation and open dialogue can make the decision less traumatic and the transition more successful for all.

And if you're still unsure, vote with your heart.

Source: EmpowerHer