Mexican American Hypertension Case Study
Mexican Americans make up a portion of the more than 50 million people living in the United States that identify as Hispanic or Latino. Hypertension is among the most common degenerative diseases that affects the American population, as the CDC estimates about 75 million adults -- almost 30% of American adults -- has high blood pressure (CDC, 2016). According to Dr. Thomas Pickering, hypertension rates among Hispanic Americans are the least of the 4 groups studied that included non-Hispanic African Americans, non-Hispanic whites, Mexican Americans and other groups with 20.7% of the population (Pickering, 2004). This information can be misleading, as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation reported in 2009 that just over 40% of Mexican Americans with hypertension do not know that they have it (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2009). The most interesting portion of the study findings was that the percentage of Mexican Americans affected by hypertension was not at all influenced by prevention strategies or treatment interventions as this group had the lowest percentage of these factors when compared to the other three groups in the study (Pickering, 2004).
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Mexican Americans, as many other minority groups are affected by health care disparities that are related to hypertension.
According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, two-thirds of Mexican Americans in the United States don't have access to a "medical home" (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2009). This means that they have less of a chance to have access to a center that would cover their health related incidents, both for preventative reasons and should they get sick (Robert Johnson Wood Foundation, 2009). Another factor that contributes to health care disparities is the number of Mexican Americans that have health insurance. Information gathered points out that insured Mexican Americans are 1 and a half times more likely to report good health than those that are uninsured (Robert Johnson Wood Foundation,
2009).
The CDC outlines strategies that are effective in the prevention of hypertension that include eating a healthy diet, maintaining a physically active lifestyle and not smoking (CDC, 2014). Considerations are recommended for lowering the amount of sodium in food, as well a increasing the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables in the daily diet (CDC, 2014). Physical activity also plays an important role in the prevention of hypertension, as the CDC estimates a weekly total of 2 and a half hours of moderate exercise (CDC, 2014).
Mexican Americans, as many other minority groups are affected by health care disparities that are related to hypertension.
According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, two-thirds of Mexican Americans in the United States don't have access to a "medical home" (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2009). This means that they have less of a chance to have access to a center that would cover their health related incidents, both for preventative reasons and should they get sick (Robert Johnson Wood Foundation, 2009). Another factor that contributes to health care disparities is the number of Mexican Americans that have health insurance. Information gathered points out that insured Mexican Americans are 1 and a half times more likely to report good health than those that are uninsured (Robert Johnson Wood Foundation,
2009).
The CDC outlines strategies that are effective in the prevention of hypertension that include eating a healthy diet, maintaining a physically active lifestyle and not smoking (CDC, 2014). Considerations are recommended for lowering the amount of sodium in food, as well a increasing the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables in the daily diet (CDC, 2014). Physical activity also plays an important role in the prevention of hypertension, as the CDC estimates a weekly total of 2 and a half hours of moderate exercise (CDC, 2014).