3 preventable diseases that harm Latinos the most
Diseases known to afflict developing countries–like HIV/AIDS, dengue fever and malaria–can be devastating, but it’s not diseases of this nature that health officials at Latin…
Latin America needs to focus on three diseases linked to social behavior, say experts. (Shutterstock)
Diseases known to afflict developing countries–like HIV/AIDS, dengue fever and malaria–can be devastating, but it’s not diseases of this nature that health officials at Latin American countries are most concerned about. There’s only three diseases that affect Latinos the most.
In a visit to Washington for an American Health Organization board meeting, Ecuadorian Health Minister Carina Vance stated that three preventable diseases are more a threat to Latin America than infectious diseases that are endemic to certain regions or certain populations.
SEE ALSO: Venezuela fights high numbers of dengue, chikungunya and malaria
1. Diabetes
A diabetic checks their blood glucose levels. (Shutterstock)
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects Latinos at an alarming rate, both in parts of Latin America and the U.S. While at first glance some less severe cases might look like just a matter of cutting out sugar and checking your blood sugar, the severe effects of diabetes can cause severe complications and sometimes death.
“Chronic diseases are the cause of most deaths among our populations and those are diseases we can prevent. That is the big challenge,” Vance said during an interview with EFE. “[In Latin America] the diseases causing more deaths and disabilities are, without any doubt, chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension and cancer.”
2. High Blood Pressure/Hypertension
FILE: Pablo Suares has his blood pressure checked as nurses and physicians give free basic health screenings. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Bad diet, lack of exercise and a stressful lifestyle, along with excessive work can all lead to high blood pressure in Latinos. If left unchecked and untreated with changes in lifestyle and sometimes medication, high blood pressure is typically the precursor to heart disease.
3. Cancer
Chemotherapy is a common treatment for some types of cancer. (Shutterstock)
A with hypertension, and diabetes, cancer, in many instances, is a disease that can be prevented with lifestyle changes. Early detection of cancer and treatment can also be a lifesaver.
Ecuador has made great strides against diseases associated with developing nations; it is the second country to have eradicated the parasitic disease onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness. Next, the nation will set its sights on malaria, a mosquito-borne illness naturally occurring in many Latin American countries. According to Vance, it is easy to target illnesses of this nature, or “poverty diseases,” because social behaviors are not at the core of why the affect the population.
Diabetes, hypertension and cancer, however, can be directly linked to the behaviors of people affected.
“Currently a big challenge are non-infectious diseases related to social behavior, and the ability of the government to provide the means to make information accessible to the population and to implement other strategies,” said Vance. “There is an important role for the government to play, but there is a role also for the population that is important.”
However, as a non-medical professional, you must do your part to take heart in your health, and to make sure you tell abuela, abuelo, mami and papi that their lifestyle might be killing them. Inform yourself and inform them before they have a chronic health problem on their hands.
Vance went on to say: “The difficulty is to achieve those changes in behavior when we are swamped by ad campaigns for foods without any nutritional value but that contribute to high levels of fat, salt and sugar in the diet.”
Ecuador may be the next country to place a tax or penalty on unhealthy consumables. (Shutterstock)
Ecuador is considering the implementation of an unhealthy consumption penalty, similar to the sugary beverage tax recently passed in Mexico. Diabetes alone in Ecuador and Latin America is a huge public health concern. Similar measures among the rest of the Latin American community might reap big benefits.
The International Diabetes Federation estimates type 2 diabetes rates in Latin America will grow 60 percent by the year 2035 if no major changes are made, and some countries have already seen diabetes replace other health issues as the leading cause of death.
Other countries in Latin America should be taking note.
SEE ALSO: Schistosomiasis: A Latin American neglected tropical disease
In addition to regulating unhealthy food advertisements and sales, Vance indicated in the interview government involvement must also take a close look at current health care systems. “Latin America must be a region where health care moves from being a privilege for the few who have money to buy a service to a region where health care is a fundamental and basic right for all,” she concluded.
