Health

Hispanics had nearly 553,000 cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in 2004, an increase of 49 percent from 2000 and a 7 percent increase from 2003, according to statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released its second annual reports on the quality of and disparities in health care in America. The 2004 National Healthcare Quality Report finds both evidence of improving quality as well as specific areas in which major improvements can be made. The 2004 National Healthcare Disparities Report indicates that there are disparities related to race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status in the American health care system. Both reports extend the baseline data on quality and disparities within health care delivery provided in AHRQ’s 2003 reports.

A new research synthesis from HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality estimates that the nation could save nearly $2.5 billion a year by preventing hospitalizations due to severe diabetes complications.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in Hispanic women, yet few are aware of the threat it poses to their health. All women should be screened for heart disease, since many conditions that put women at risk, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, are hard to detect without screening.

A free, Rapid HIV test that allows people to get results in 20 minutes rather than two weeks is the focus of a year-long, $2 million advertising and public awareness campaign designed to encourage more people to get tested.

Viacom Inc. and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation announced the year-three launch of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning public education initiative KNOW HIV/AIDS, which includes targeted public service announcements (PSAs), HIV-themed programming, and free print and online information resources.

The Alzheimer’s Association announced the launch of its first-ever Spanish-language radio and print PSAs as a call to action for Latinos – particularly the almost 8 million Hispanic baby boomers – to take steps now to reduce their risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease. As the newest element of the Association’s ongoing Maintain Your Brain consumer education effort, “Síntomas” includes radio and print public service announcements exclusively in Spanish.

The US Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) latest national Spanish-English language HIV PSA campaign was launched this October to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in the Latino community and to promote prevention, testing and treatment.