The health of the United States on the whole is not very different from the Latino, or Hispanic, population. The major health concerns of Latinos match up statistically in almost all ways except for conditions caused by unhealthy activities such as eating too much fat or carbohydrates, smoking cigarettes, consumption of too much alcohol, violence and risky sexual behaviors. Many would argue that these are issues because they are not properly addressed in the communities. Further, migratory work and less stable housing and economic situations, despite hard work and commitment to family, seem to interrupt healthy cycles and make addressing these concerns a unique challenge. Healthy People 2010 are geared for these concerns and taking the necessary steps of personalizing its goals to the community and reaching Latinos in Florida will generate a substantial and measurable increase in overall health.
[...] Injuries and violence, unsafe sex, being obese and using drugs are more likely in Latinos and childhood education is readily available but Latinos are much more likely to die from diabetes and middle-aged and elderly Latinos die from diabetes at over twice the rate of the general populace. Type II Diabetes, like liver problems, death by misadventure, violence and HIV most often occurs once an unhealthy cycle is established and breaking that cycle will do wonders for the Latino community in Florida (Wallace and Villa, 2007). This is evidence that the current health needs are not being met by what is currently available. [...]
[...] Whether this is actual progress or some sort of assimilation in a flatter global world is quite up for debate, but the data and the assessments of qualitatively observed behavior certainly indicate that the future of the Latino population in Florida and in the United States is changing toward the average. It seems likely that the overarching Healthy People 2010 goals (with 28 focus goals and hundreds of target goal numbers in various statistic and epidemiological indicators of health) are unlikely to be met in any segment of the United States population. [...]
[...] Immunization, on a national level, is best examined through the lens of the following statistics which show that: In 2005 Hispanic adults aged 65 and older were 10% less likely to have received the influenza (flu) shot in the past 12 months, as compared to non-Hispanic whites of the same age group. In 2005, Hispanic adults aged 65 and older were 50% less likely to have ever received the pneumonia shot, as compared to non- Hispanic white adults of the same age group. [...]
[...] Conclusion Florida has the highest percentage of Latinos of any state; changing how the children live will address the preventable health issues that lower the quality of life in older Latinos. The length of a lifespan is less relevant to the activities of daily living than the quality of the senior years and Latinos, even accounting for cultural differences and from any country, are more likely than whites to say that they're in bad health. Culture is an important aspect of problems with adjustment amongst Latinos. [...]
[...] Population Description America's health is in jeopardy, in all populations and throughout the country. The Latino population of Florida is in particular trouble and it is therefore important to address it as an impending crisis. It requires unique solutions because the primary health issues of Florida's Latinos are preventable. Education and changed behaviors can keep the situation from worsening and measures to do both of those things have been less successful than in other communities. This is why Latinos live longer than average but are also sicker than average. [...]
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