The Latina Guide to Health

Written by Jane L. Delgado, the nation's leading expert on Hispanic health, The Latina Guide to Health features cutting-edge medical information as well as consejos (conversational advice) throughout. Until recently, little was known about Latina health. The U.S. government did not even collect statistics on causes of death among Hispanics before 1989. Since then, research has yielded a wealth of new information. The most surprising is that even though Latinas have high rates of diabetes and are more likely to be overweight than non-Hispanic white women, Latinas have lower rates of heart disease, lower rates of stroke, and live longer than non-Hispanic white women, rich or poor. Nevertheless, the health messages Latinas receive are still the same as those of the general population--or worse--focus only on the disparities. These messages do not match the experiences of Latinas nor do they not take into account Latinas' strengths and assets. Authoritative and accessible, this guide includes an A - Z Health facts section on everything from alcoholism and asthma to depression, diabetes, lupus, and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as sidebars, charts, and website resources. Also available in Spanish: Guia de salud: consejos y respuestas para la mujer latina