The health issue that concerns me the most is high cholesterol and diabetes. I have read and heard that the Hispanic culture is at a higher risk of having high cholesterol and diabetes. Growing up we ate mostly home cooked meals, but thinking back the meals were not very healthy. Now as a grownup I worry about these diseases because several of my elder family members including my father have cholesterol issues. Fortunately we do not have any diabetes issues as of now. Unfortunately in my family we do not take the time to educate ourselves on healthy eating or take the time to think about the food we cook. We simply turn the other cheek and live by the words “It’s in our culture”. As I have grown older and read more about staying healthy I try to be conscious about the food I eat and try to stop the tradition of eating unhealthy. I am more conscious on how I cook our food. Although frying everything and covering it with cheese is delicious this will not stop the cycle of high cholesterol in our family.
I asked my mom, age 55, Hispanic, the question of her health concerns and why the worry her. I was not surprised to find that her concerns are the same as mine. Mom does not her or dad to die at an early age because of their eating habits. My parents have gotten a lot better as well and are healthier conscious. Mom works out more and tries to cook healthier. Dad just goes along with eating what mom cooks but still refuses to work out. Dad works very hard and is tired when he gets home and says the last thing he wants to do is exercise.
My sister, age 37, Hispanic, has different medical concerns that mine. She is concerned about Flu virus because there are so many types now that it concerns her there will not be an antibiotic that will help her immune system. Breast cancer concerns her because under the age of 40 unless you specifically ask for the test you do not receive it. Her two main concerns though are weight gain and acid reflux. She currently has to take acid reflux medication and is concerned she will have to take pills the rest of her life. Weight gain because hormones are always changing and with that she fears her weight will fluctuate up and down.
I also asked my soon to be step daughter in law, age 24, white, what her health concerns are. She is concerned about vitamin deficiency because she is breast feeding. She says she knows she is not getting all the nutrients she needs from her diet and wishes she could supplement without taking lots of pills.
My last interview was a co-worker, age 45, black about her health concerns. She most concerned about cancer because it is very strong in her family on both sides. Her paternal grandmother died from cancer and her mother is a 3 year breast cancer survivor. She also mentioned that several other family members are survivors or died from the disease.
I was suprised to see how my concerns differed from the ladies I interviewed.
High cholesterol and diabetes are concerns for many families as I, too, share your concerns. One is never too young or old to began eating better, taking vitamins and exercising in order to improve their lives. The very idea your parents are attempting to eat better prepared meals shows they are willing to start living healthier. Encourage them to read the food labels and serving sizes as well. From my experience, I was extremely surprised to read the labels and find ingredients that were unhealthy and gradually began to change my choices. Walking is an excellent start to begin exercising. Getting out and enjoying fresh air and sunshine is a wonderful way to begin. It is amazing more women are beginning to breastfeed their infants. Your daughter-in-law is to be commended for giving her child an excellent beginning. Taking supplements to help with vitamin deficiencies is also an excellent idea. I am of an opinion your family appears to be doing well. My heart goes out to your co-worker whose family has to cope with cancer. It cannot be easy to be plagued with such horrific tragedies and have to watch family members suffer.
ReplyDeleteB Dudley
HS 3133.50
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Yadira- I completely agree with your post regarding high cholesterol and diabetes. As I posted in my blog, a concern for eating properly and exercising is top of my list. 90-95% of people with diabetes have type tyo(Alexander, L. L., LaRosa, Bader, Garfield, Alxander, W. J., 2010). Type two diabetes is commonly cause by obesity. Over eating and not exercising is a vicious cycle that is hard to break. I hope I can one day pass down better eating habits to my children.
ReplyDeleteCancer is always one of the top concerns when it comes to health. I work at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center so I am surrounded by it every day.I t is encouraging what we are doing to make improvements at eliminating cancer. On the other hand, relating back to your initial concern, we are still not taking the proper steps for early detection as well as prevention with our life styles. Maybe one day we will get it!
Alexander, L. L., LaRosa, J. H., Bader, H., Garfield, S., & Alexander, W. J. (2010). New Dimensions in Women's Health. (5th ed.). Sadbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Hi Yadira!
ReplyDeleteDiabetes was a concern for one of the women I interviewed and I completely agree with you. One of the scariest things is that it is not just obesity that causes it. In fact, one of my really good friends got it out of nowhere and he is from Pakistan and average weight and they still have no idea why he developed it. No on in his family has it. Another thing that concerns me is high cholesterol. My boyfriend has high cholesterol and this is something he was born with, Being young and naive, he doesnt exactly eat healthy most of the time. In fact, I think he is scared of vegetables. The only thing I advice I would have to give to you is do your best to get a good work out in a couple times a week. Get your heart rate up and get checked every year for diabetes and cholesterol. There are ways to prevent both things as well as treating them. I wish you luck in making a change to live a better and healthier lifestyle! Its defiantly not always easy but having the knowledge and strength to do it can be done. Good luck!
Yadira,
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point on how culture affects how we view health issues and the importance of them. Their are those diseases/cancers that run more prevalent in some culture. For example, you mention the high cholesterol and diabetes in Hispanics. It is hard to adjust to a new diet and incorporating exercise as well if it is not the "norm" of the culture. I think we all become concerned with the health issues that we see run in our own families because after all, its family and most of the time we are eating and as active as those we spend the most time with. Great post! I enjoyed reading all your different interviews.
Jossie Herrera
Yadira, I feel as we get older we get wiser about our health. I feel it is never too late to make the change for a healthier life. Your concerns for diabetes and high cholesterol are valid. In fact diabetes and heart disease are amongst the five leading cause of deaths amongst Hispanic and African American (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2010). You brought up an important factor of our eating habits; culture, Culture does play a big part in our diet. As women, mothers, wives and daughters we have an opportunity to change the diet of our household. It is great that your mother is eating/cooking healthier and working out more. For Dad, I suggest visiting the American Heart Association Website; it has a great list of household chores that will still count as exercise (like gardening, yard work etc.).
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I am too tired from work and school to think about going out to exercise. So, I bought the Wii “Just dance “game and play with my kids. I burn many calories try to beat them at the game.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, February 19). Leading Causes of Death in Females United States, 2006 (Fact Sheet). Retrieved from CDC office of Women’s health: http://www.cdc.gov/women/lcod/