Currently, 54 million Hispanics live in the U.S. By 2050, that number is expected to rise to 132.8 million. For this reason, Hispanic health concerns are getting more attention from the American medical establishment than in the past. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that Hispanic Americans tend to live longer than either black or white Americans despite the fact that this population is less likely to carry health insurance than all other populations.
Hispanic males have a life expectancy of 78 years and Hispanic females live to an average age of 83 years. This exceeds the national average of 76 years for men and 81 years for women of all races and ethnicities. In a 2010, report the CDC lists the 10 leading causes of death for those of Hispanic descent as follows:
- Cancer
- Heart Disease
- Unintentional injuries
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases
- Influenza and pneumonia
- Homicide
- Kidney Diseases such as Nephritis, Nephrotic Syndrome, and Nephrosis
Conditions and risk factors that disproportionately target Hispanics and contribute to their leading causes of death include asthma, HIV/AIDS, obesity, teen pregnancy, smoking and tobacco use, and Chagas disease.
Chagas disease is endemic throughout much of Mexico, Central America, and South America where an estimated 8 to 11 million people are infected. The triatomine bug thrives under poor housing conditions (for example, mud walls, thatched roofs), so in endemic countries, people living in rural areas are at greatest risk for acquiring infection. The infection is most commonly acquired through contact with the feces of an infected triatomine bug (or "kissing bug"), a blood-sucking insect that feeds on humans and animals. Acute Chagas disease occurs immediately after infection, and may last up to a few weeks or months, and parasites may be found in the circulating blood. Infection may be mild or without symptoms, or in the chronic phase of the disease an estimated 20 – 30 percent of infected people will develop debilitating and sometimes life-threatening medical problems over the course of their lives.
In order to sustain or regain good health, the CDC recommends that Hispanics get vaccinated with the flu vaccine prior to flu season each year, control obesity by increasing physical activity, eating more fruits and veggies, less processed foods, and practice safe sex to avoid HIV infection. Another important issue is lowering the teen pregnancy rate, which is 3-5 times higher in Hispanics than in other U.S. population. Nothing can be done to avoid death completely, but healthy living has its own rewards in that you look better and feel better each and every day. Here’s to a long and healthy life!