New article on health of older Asian Indian Immigrants

This study examines the health status and utilization of physicians, hospitals, emergency departments, and traditional medicine among older Asian Indianimmigrants (n = 100). The data for this study derives from the Asian American Elders in New York City (AAENYC) Study, which used a regional probability sampling. Multivariate analyses were guided by the Andersen behavioral model. The number of medical conditions is significant in predicting the likelihood ofphysician visits while age and having medical insurance predicted the likelihood of hospital stays. Having medical insurance was also a significant predictor for the use of emergency department services while poor English proficiency was associated with the use of traditional medicine. The entire article can be viewed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18998211?ordinalpos=8&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

IHT.com Article: Diwali Sweets Losing Their Allure

Diwali Sweets Losing Their Allure
The Associated Press
Monday, Oct. 13, 2008


For thousands of years, Diwali celebrations have had a sweet embrace on India.
Surgery treats, or mithai, have long been central to this Hindu festival of lights - sweet, fudgy goodies rich with cardamon, pistachio, and saffron, often coated an ethereal foil of pure silver. They are eagerly eaten, given as gifts, offered to the gods.

Read more at: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/13/asia/AS-FEA-India-Bittersweet-Diwali.php.

India goes smoke free!

New Delhi: The much talked ban on smoking at public places all over the country comes into effect from today. Violation of the ban, imposed under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, will attract a fine of up to Rs.200.

To view the article, please visit: http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/02/stories/2008100259430100.htm

Genes "Up Indians' Obesity Risk"

This article is a few months old, but it presents an interesting hypothesis regarding the prevalence of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and heart problems in the South Asian community:

“Scientists have pinpointed a reason why people with Indian ancestry may be more prone to weight problems.

They have found this group is more likely to carry a gene sequence linked to an expanding waist line, weight gain and type 2 diabetes.

The sequence, discovered by a team led by Imperial College London, is carried by 50% of the population - but is a third more common in Indian Asians.

This study is important because it provides a potential genetic 'flag' by which doctors may be able to identify people who would gain great health benefits from help to avoid gaining weight

The finding might provide a possible genetic explanation for the particularly high levels of obesity in Indian Asians, who make up 25% of the world's population, but who are expected to account for 40% of global cardiovascular disease by 2020.”

Preventative Measures:

"Lead researcher Professor Jaspal Kooner said the genetics behind obesity and its related health problems had been little understood.

He said: "A better understanding of the genes behind problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease means that we will be in a good position to identify people whose genetic inheritance makes them most susceptible.

"We can't change their genetic inheritance. But we can focus on preventative measures, including life-style factors such as diet and exercise, and identifying new drug targets to help reduce the burden of disease."

You can read the rest of the article here.

You can access the abstract of the original study here.

2008 Presidential Candidate Health Plan Analysis

With the upcoming presidential election around the corner, AMHP (Association of Muslim Health Profesionals) thought it prudent to compare the health plans of the two major party candidates to help voters make informed decisions. As such, the Health Research and Policy Committee (HRP) compared and analyzed the two candidate's healthcare platforms. This document may be viewed at:bhttp://amhp.us/downloads/HRP.pdf

Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project's Annual Fundraising Dinner

Please Join the Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project's Annual Fundraising Dinner:

Ripples of Change: A Community Stance Against Domestic Violence

Thursday, October 16, 2008
6:30 to 9:00 pm

China Garden Restaurant
1100 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, Virginia 22209

General Admission: $50 ($60 – at the door)
Students, DVRP Volunteers/Advocates: $30 ($35 – at the door)

To reserve your tickets, please call 202-464-4477 or email events@dvrp.org by Thursday, October 9, 2008. If you are interested in volunteering at the dinner, or if you or your company would like to sponsor the dinner, please email Nancy Chi Cantalupo at nancy@dvrp.org.

Charting the socal and health needs of Pennsylania's Indians

Family Services of Montgomery County, in Pennsylvania, has just released an extensive report on the social and healthcare needs of the local Indian community. The 92-page report was written by Larry Fiebert, who conducted numerous interviews, and can be downloaded at
http://www.sajaforum.org/2008/08/mental-health-c.html.

Tomatoes or Jalapenos or Cilantro?: Do South Asians know where to for public health information

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/saintpaul/

CDC is collaborating with public health officials in many states, the Indian Health Service, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate an ongoing multi-state outbreak of human Salmonella serotype Saintpaul infections. An initial epidemiologic investigation in New Mexico and Texas comparing foods eaten by persons who were ill in May to foods eaten by well persons identified consumption of raw tomatoes as strongly linked to illness. A similar but much larger, nationwide study comparing persons who were ill in June to well persons found that ill persons were more likely to have recently consumed raw tomatoes, fresh jalapeño peppers, and fresh cilantro. These items were commonly, though not always, consumed together, so that study could not determine which item(s) caused the illnesses.

Recently, many clusters of illnesses have been identified in several states among persons who ate at restaurants. Most clusters involve fewer than 5 ill persons. Three larger clusters have been intensively investigated. In one, illnesses were linked to consumption of an item containing fresh tomatoes and fresh jalapeño peppers. In the other two, illnesses were linked to an item containing fresh jalapeño peppers and no other of the suspect items. The accumulated data from all investigations indicate that jalapeño peppers caused some illnesses but that they do not explain all illnesses. Raw tomatoes, fresh serrano peppers, and fresh cilantro also remain under investigation. Investigators from many agencies are collaborating to track the source of the implicated peppers and other produce items.

FDA: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html

FDA is updating its warning to consumers nationwide concerning the outbreak of Salmonella serotype Saintpaul.

Although epidemiological and other evidence continues to have a strong association with certain raw tomatoes, a recent case control study and disease cluster information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that not only tomatoes, but also raw jalapeno and serrano peppers may be linked to illnesses in this continuing outbreak.

At this time, the FDA is advising people in high risk populations such as elderly persons, infants and people with impaired immune systems to avoid eating raw jalapeno and raw serrano peppers.

In addition, the FDA continues to advise consumers to avoid eating raw red plum, red Roma, or red round tomatoes except for those grown in the areas listed below. Tomatoes grown in those areas have not been associated with the outbreak.

Consumers who are unsure of the origin of the tomatoes in their home should contact the store or place of purchase. If consumers are unable to determine the source of the tomatoes, they should not eat them. Types of tomatoes not associated with this outbreak include cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached, and tomatoes grown at home.

Place matters: is there an impact for South Asians in the U.S.

Unnatural Causes: Is inequality making us sick?

Episode 5: http://www.unnaturalcauses.org/episode_descriptions.php?page=5

Why is your street address such a good predictor of your health? Latino and Southeast Asian immigrants like Gwai Boonkeut have been moving into long-neglected urban neighborhoods such as those in Richmond, California, a predominantly Black city in the San Francisco Bay Area. Segregation and lack of access to jobs, nutritious foods, and safe, affordable housing have been harmful to the health of long-time African American residents, and now the newcomers’ health is suffering too.

In Gwai’s environment, petrochemical companies release tons of pollutants each year. But other environmental factors may pose a greater threat to his health. Richmond has higher than average rates of asthma hospitalization, higher rates of diabetes, and lower life expectancy. Not coincidentally, Gwai’s area also has higher rates of poverty, lower income rates, and lower rates of educational attainment. Tobacco, liquor and fast food are everywhere, but fresh produce isn’t. Quality affordable housing is hard to find, and so are safe places to play and exercise.

Sixty-five years ago, Richmond was a boom town. During World War II, the Kaiser shipyard ran 24 hours a day. The war effort drew workers of all ethnicities. But when the war ended and the shipyards closed, thousands of jobs left. Many white families took advantage of federally backed home loans to start fresh in new areas, but discriminatory policies and practices excluded people of color from those same opportunities. Between 1934 and 1962, less than 2% of $120 billion in government-backed home loans went to non-white households. In Northern California around the same time period, out of 350,000 federally guaranteed new home loans, fewer than 100 went to Black families.

All across America, in cities like Richmond, African Americans were left behind in increasingly neglected neighborhoods. As social conditions worsen, so does health. Studies have shown, for example, that living in a disadvantaged neighborhood leads to a 50-80% increase in risk for heart disease – the number one killer in America. One reason is chronic stress. Worrying about violence, lousy schools, and unpaid bills; living in substandard housing or a polluted environment; not having good access to fresh food, reliable transportation, or safe public spaces – all of these have a negative, even toxic effect on health.

In the Pacific Northwest, a neighborhood that was once much like Richmond, High Point in West Seattle, is emerging as a promising alternative. Community members, local government and developers took a radical approach in rebuilding this neighborhood – using federal funding to create a mixed-income community with health as its focus. Here, community gardeners grow and sell organic produce to other residents; neighbors socialize along clean, safe streets; children play in the park; and families with asthma breathe easily in specially designed homes.

Although High Point isn’t perfect, it’s an example of what can happen when residents, government agencies, local officials, foundations and private business work together and take health into account. As Harvard’s David Williams reminds us, “Housing policy is health policy. Neighborhood improvement policies are health policies. Everything that we can do to improve the quality of life for individuals in our society has an impact on their health and is a health policy.”